Pre-steady-state decoding of the bicoid morphogen gradient

Sven Bergmann, Oded Sandler, Hila Sberro, Sara Shnider, Eyal Schejter, Ben Zion Shilo, Naama Barkai*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

160 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Morphogen gradients are established by the localized production and subsequent diffusion of signaling molecules. It is generally assumed that cell fates are induced only after morphogen profiles have reached their steady state. Yet, patterning processes during early development occur rapidly, and tissue patterning may precede the convergence of the gradient to its steady state. Here we consider the implications of pre-steady-state decoding of the Bicoid morphogen gradient for patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of the Drosophila embryo. Quantitative analysis of the shift in the expression domains of several Bicoid targets (gap genes) upon alteration of bcd dosage, as well as a temporal analysis of a reporter for Bicoid activity, suggest that a transient decoding mechanism is employed in this setting. We show that decoding the pre-steady-state morphogen profile can reduce patterning errors caused by fluctuations in the rate of morphogen production. This can explain the surprisingly small shifts in gap and pair-rule gene expression domains observed in response to alterations in bcd dosage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)232-242
Number of pages11
JournalPLoS Biology
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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