Formation of the BMP Activity Gradient in the Drosophila Embryo

• Published in: Developmental cell Vol. 8; no. 6; pp. 915 - 924
• Main Authors: Mizutani, Claudia Mieko, Nie, Qing, Wan, Frederic Y.M., Zhang, Yong-Tao, Vilmos, Peter, Sousa-Neves, Rui, Bier, Ethan, Marsh, J. Lawrence, Lander, Arthur D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Inc 01.06.2005; Cell Press
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Automatic Data Processing; Biological and medical sciences; Body Patterning - physiology; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - metabolism; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell physiology; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Embryonic Development; Fluorescent Antibody Technique - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology; Genotype; In Situ Hybridization - methods; Molecular and cellular biology; Neural Networks (Computer); Time Factors; Embryo; Gradient; Arthropoda; Insecta; Development; Invertebrata; Drosophila melanogaster; Diptera; Drosophilidae
• ISSN: 1534-5807; 1878-1551
• DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2005.04.009

The dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo is patterned by a gradient of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands. In a process requiring at least three additional extracellular proteins, a broad domain of weak signaling forms and then abruptly sharpens into a narrow dorsal midline peak. Using experimental and computational approaches, we investigate how the interactions of a multiprotein network create the unusual shape and dynamics of formation of this gradient. Starting from observations suggesting that receptor-mediated BMP degradation is an important driving force in gradient dynamics, we develop a general model that is capable of capturing both subtle aspects of gradient behavior and a level of robustness that agrees with in vivo results.