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Formation of long range Dpp morphogen gradient

Schwank, G. and Dalessi, S. and Yang, S. -F. and Yagi, R. and Morton de Lachapelle, A. and Affolter, M. and Bergmann, S. and Basler, K.. (2011) Formation of long range Dpp morphogen gradient. PLoS biology, Vol. 9, H. 7 , E1001111.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5844188

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Abstract

Morphogens are signaling molecules that trigger specific responses in cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The formation of morphogen gradients is essential for the patterning of tissues and organs. Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is the Drosophila homolog of the bone morphogenic proteins in vertebrates and forms a morphogen gradient along the anterior-posterior axis of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, a single-cell layered epithelium. Dpp determines the growth and final size of the wing disc and serves as an ideal model system to study gradient formation. Despite extensive studies the mechanism by which morphogen gradients are established remains controversial. In the case of Dpp two mechanisms have been postulated, namely extracellular diffusion and receptor-mediated transcytosis. In the first model Dpp is suggested to move by diffusion through the extracellular matrix of a tissue, whereas in the latter model Dpp is transported through the cells by receptor-mediated uptake and re-secretion. In this work we combined novel genetic tools with mathematical modeling to discriminate between the two models. Our results suggest that the Dpp gradient forms following the extracellular diffusion mechanism. Moreover, our data suggest that the majority of the extracellular Dpp is free and not bound to its receptor, a property likely to play a role for the long-range gradient formation.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Biozentrum > Growth & Development > Cell Biology (Affolter)
UniBasel Contributors:Affolter, Markus
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Public Library of Science
ISSN:1545-7885
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:11 Oct 2012 15:16
Deposited On:14 Sep 2012 06:38

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