Control of Dpp morphogen signalling by a secreted feedback regulator
09.05.2010
Vuilleumier R, Springhorn A, Patterson L, Koidl S, Hammerschmidt M, Affolter M, Pyrowolakis G.
Nat Cell Biol. 2010 Jun;12(6):611-7
Control of tissue growth and patterning by gradients of signalling molecules -so called morphogens - is a fundamental principle of development. With Drosophila melanogaster as a model system, we identify a novel secreted protein, Pent, that is critically involved in formation of BMP morphogen gradient. We show that Pent regulates the stability and distribution of BMP ligands and demonstrate that the production of Pent is regulated by BMP signalling itself, qualifying the protein as a novel regulatory feedback loop in morphogen signalling.
