A BMP-FGF morphogen toggle switch drives the ultrasensitive expression of multiple genes in the developing forebrain.

ABSTRACT: Borders are important as they demarcate developing tissue into distinct functional units. A key challenge is the discovery of mechanisms that can convert morphogen gradients into tissue borders. While mechanisms that produce ultrasensitive cellular responses provide a solution, how extracellular morphogens drive such mechanisms remains poorly understood. Here, we show how Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) pathways interact to generate ultrasensitivity and borders in the dorsal telencephalon. BMP and FGF signaling manipulations in explants produced border defects suggestive of cross inhibition within single cells, which was confirmed in dissociated cultures. Using mathematical modeling, we designed experiments that ruled out alternative cross inhibition mec

SUBMITTER: Srinivasan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3923663 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature