Difference between revisions of "Long Range Dpp Gradient Formation"
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<newstitle> Understanding Dpp gradient formation mechanism </newstitle> | <newstitle> Understanding Dpp gradient formation mechanism </newstitle> | ||
<teaser> | <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. | + | 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 [http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001111 PLoS Biology] on 26 Juli 2011. |
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| − | The article appeared online in [http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001111 PLoS | ||
<date>18 October 2011 — 11:13</date> | <date>18 October 2011 — 11:13</date> | ||
</teaser> | </teaser> | ||
Revision as of 15:30, 1 November 2011
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 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.
