Dynamic assignment and maintenance of positional identity in the ventral neural tube by the morphogen sonic hedgehog.

ABSTRACT: Morphogens are secreted signalling molecules that act in a graded manner to control the pattern of cellular differentiation in developing tissues. An example is Sonic hedgehog (Shh), which acts in several developing vertebrate tissues, including the central nervous system, to provide positional information during embryonic patterning. Here we address how Shh signalling assigns the positional identities of distinct neuronal subtype progenitors throughout the ventral neural tube. Assays of intracellular signal transduction and gene expression indicate that the duration as well as level of signalling is critical for morphogen interpretation. Progenitors of the ventral neuronal subtypes are established sequentially, with progressively more ventral identities requiring correspondingly higher le

SUBMITTER: Dessaud E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2879390 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature