Author: ["Robin Vuilleumier","Alexander Springhorn","Lucy Patterson","Stefanie Koidl","Matthias Hammerschmidt","Markus Affolter","George Pyrowolakis"]
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Abstract
Morphogens direct cell fates across tissues through concentration gradients. Pentagone, a secreted protein and a newly identified target of the Drosophila bone morphogenetic protein decapentaplegic (Dpp), is shown to promote long-range distribution of the Dpp ligand in the wing through its binding to the heparan-sulphate proteoglycan Dally. In many instances during development, morphogens specify cell fates by forming concentration gradients. In the Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal disc, Decapentaplegic (Dpp), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), functions as a long-range morphogen to control patterning and growth1. Dpp is secreted from a stripe of cells at the anterior-posterior compartment boundary and spreads into both compartments to generate a characteristic BMP activity gradient2,3,4,5,6. Ever since the identification of the morphogen activity of Dpp in the developing wing, the system has served as a paradigm to understand how long-range gradients are established and how cells respond to such gradients. Here we reveal the tight and direct connection of these two processes with the identification and characterization of pentagone (pent), a transcriptional target of BMP signalling encoding a secreted regulator of the pathway. Absence of pent in the wing disc causes a severe contraction of the BMP activity gradient resulting in patterning and growth defects. We show that Pent interacts with the glypican Dally to control Dpp distribution and provide evidence that proper establishment of the BMP morphogen gradient requires the inbuilt feedback loop embodied by Pent.Cite this article
Vuilleumier, R., Springhorn, A., Patterson, L. et al. Control of Dpp morphogen signalling by a secreted feedback regulator. Nat Cell Biol 12, 611–617 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2064 