title: Temporal control of BMP signalling determines neuronal subtype identity in the dorsal neural tube.
abstract: The conventional explanation for how a morphogen patterns a tissue holds that cells interpret different concentrations of an extrinsic ligand by producing corresponding levels of intracellular signalling activity, which in turn regulate differential gene expression. However, this view has been challenged, raising the possibility that distinct mechanisms are used to interpret different morphogens. Here, we investigate graded BMP signalling in the vertebrate neural tube. We show that defined exposure times to Bmp4 generate distinct levels of signalling and induce specific dorsal identities. Moreover, we provide evidence that a dynamic gradient of BMP activity confers progressively more dorsal neural identities in vivo. These results highlight a strategy for morphogen interpretation in which the tight temporal control of signalling is important for the spatial pattern of cellular differentiation.
authors: MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Tozer
authors: Gwenvael
authors: G
authors: Le Dréau
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Marti
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Briscoe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins