Bicoid gradient formation mechanism and dynamics revealed by protein lifetime analysis

ABSTRACT: Embryogenesis relies on instructions provided by spatially organized signaling molecules known as morphogens. Understanding the principles behind morphogen distribution and how cells interpret locally this information remains a major challenge in developmental biology. Here we introduce morphogen-age measurements as a novel approach to retrieve key parameters in morphogen dynamics. Using a tandem fluorescent timer (tFT) as a protein-age sensor we find a gradient of increasing age of Bicoid (Bcd) along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis in the early Drosophila embryo. Quantitative analysis retrieves parameter that are most consistent with the synthesis-diffusion-degradation (SDD) model underlying Bcd-gradient formation, and rule out other hypotheses for gradient formation. Moreover, we show t

SUBMITTER: Dr Lucia Durrieu 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-MSB-18-8355 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other