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PMID: 18571415 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Precise registration of gene expression boundaries by a repressive morphogen in Drosophila.

Current biology : CB ·Vol. 18 ·No. 12 ·2008-06-24 ·Pages 868-76

Yu D, Small S

Abstract

Morphogen gradients are thought to create concentration thresholds that differentially position the expression boundaries of multiple target genes. Despite intensive study, it is still unclear how the concentration profiles within gradients are spatially related to the critical patterning thresholds they generate. Here we use a combination of quantitative measurements and ectopic-misexpression experiments to examine the transcriptional-repression activities of the Hunchback (Hb) protein gradient in Drosophila embryos. Our results define five expression boundaries that are set primarily by differences in Hb concentration and two boundaries that are set by combinatorial mechanisms involving Hb and at least one other repressor. Hb functions as a repressive morphogen, but only within a specific range of concentrations ( approximately 40% to approximately 4.4% of maximum Hb concentration), within which there are at least four distinct concentration thresholds. The lower limit of the range reflects a position where the slope of the gradient becomes too shallow for resolution by specific target genes. Concentrations above the upper limit do not contribute directly to differential-repression mechanisms, but they provide a robust source that permits proper functioning of the gradient in heterozygous embryos that contain only one functional hb gene.

MeSH Terms
Animals DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics,metabolism Drosophila/embryology,genetics,metabolism,ultrastructure Drosophila Proteins/genetics,metabolism Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Image Processing, Computer-Assisted Immunohistochemistry In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence Microscopy, Confocal Morphogenesis/genetics,physiology Transcription Factors/genetics,metabolism
Chemicals
DNA-Binding Proteins Drosophila Proteins Transcription Factors hb protein, Drosophila
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Yu Danyang
Department of Biology, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Small Stephen
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Article Info
Journal
Current biology : CB
Abbr.
Curr Biol
ISSN
0960-9822
DOI
10.1016/j.cub.2008.05.050
Published
2008-06-24
Pages
868-76
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
9107782
PMCID
PMC2481289
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM51946 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM051946 · United States
NCRR NIH HHS · C06 RR-15518-01 · United States
NCRR NIH HHS · C06 RR015518 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM051946-11 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2008.05.050 PMC Full Text View journal details
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