title: Bicoid mRNA diffusion as a mechanism of morphogenesis in Drosophila early development.
abstract: We show that mRNA diffusion is the main morphogenesis mechanism that consistently explains the establishment of Bicoid protein gradients in the embryo of Drosophila, contradicting the current view of protein diffusion. Moreover, we show that if diffusion for both bicoid mRNA and Bicoid protein were assumed, a steady distribution of Bicoid protein with a constant concentration along the embryo would result, contradicting observations.
authors.affiliation: Non-Linear Dynamics Group, IST, Department of Physics, avenue Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal; Institut des hautes études scientifiques, 35, route de Chartres, 91440 Bures-sur-Yvette, France. Electronic address: ruidilao@tecnico.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dilão
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D004058:Diffusion; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Diffusion; Pattern formation; bicoid mRNA gradient