Smad affinity can direct distinct readouts of the embryonic extracellular Dpp gradient in Drosophila

Stephen J. Wharton, Sanjay P. Basu, Hilary L. Ashe

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Background: The TGF-β signaling molecule Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is an essential morphogen that patterns many tissues during Drosophila development, including the embryonic dorsal ectoderm and larval wing imaginal disk. An activity gradient of Dpp specifies distinct cell fates in the dorsal ectoderm of the embryo through the activation of different transcriptional threshold responses. Results: We have analyzed the gene Race, which is expressed in response to peak levels of Dpp signaling in gastrulating embryos. We show that the Smad transcription factors, which are intracellular transducers of Dpp signaling, are essential activators of Race in vivo. Furthermore, increasing the affinity of the Smad binding sites in the Race enhancer broadens the expression pattern of a linked reporter gene and alters its behavior in mutant embryos to that characteristic of a distinct threshold response. Conclusions: Smad activator affinity is a critical determinant of the threshold response to the extracellular Dpp gradient in the embryo. Our results identify a mechanism for interpreting the Dpp gradient in the embryo which is different to the reciprocal repressor gradient model proposed for the wing disk. We suggest that transcription factor binding site affinity will be a general strategy used in the interpretation of other extracellular morphogen gradients.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1550-1558
    Number of pages8
    JournalCurrent Biology
    Volume14
    Issue number17
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 7 Sept 2004

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Smad affinity can direct distinct readouts of the embryonic extracellular Dpp gradient in Drosophila'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this