View source for Long Range Dpp Gradient Formation

[[Category:Bulletins]]
<newstitle> Understanding Dpp gradient formation mechanism </newstitle>
    <teaser>
In collaboration with the Basler group (University of Zurich), we developed a theoretical model allowing to understand which is the leading mechanism involved in the Dpp long range gradient formation. The article appeared online in <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001111">PLoS Biology</a> on 26 July 2011.
    <date>18 October 2011 — 11:13</date>
    </teaser>

Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is a key morphogen which is expressed in a stripe of cells along the anteriorposterior (A-P) boundary of the Drosophila wing imaginal discs and diffuses along the A-P axis forming, at steady-state, a "quasi exponential" profile.
The mechanisms by which this profile is formed has however long been controversal and two distinct mechanisms involving Dpp receptors have been proposed: Receptor-Mediated Transcytosis (RMT) and Restricted Extracellular Diffusion (RED).

In a recent paper (for more details [http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001111 click here]), we developed a rigorous theoretical model which involves three Dpp components: extracellular Dpp, receptor-bound Dpp and internalized Dpp. Providing a different parameter choice, this model allows to describe both the RMT and RED mechanism.
Comparing our analytical model to wild-type and receptor mutant clone experimental data, we conclude that 
(1) the RMT mechanism is not consistent with our experimental data
(2) a RED mechanism where most of the Dpp is unbound to the receptor leads to the expected Dpp profiles.


<pubmed>
21814489
</pubmed>