First published online May 12, 2005
Development 132, 1105e (2005)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Cleaving Bmps with tissue specific proteases
In Drosophila embryos, Tolloid (Tld) – an extracellular
protease related to bone morphogenetic protein 1 (Bmp1) – helps to
specify dorsal structures by cleaving the Bmp inhibitor Short gastrulation
(Sog) to release Decapentaplegic from an inhibitory complex. On p.
2645, Serpe and
colleagues report that, during posterior crossvein (PCV) formation in
Drosophila wings, the embryonic role of Tld in spatially restricting
Bmp signalling is recapitulated by Tolloid-related (Tlr). The researchers show
that, like Tld, Tlr cleaves Sog but with slightly different kinetics and that
tlr mutants lack the PCV probably through excess Sog activity
reducing Bmp signalling. However, other results indicate that, as in the
embryo, Sog has both negative and positive effects on Bmp signalling in the
wing. Finally, because Tld and Tlr cannot substitute for each other during
development, the researchers propose that their different Sog catalytic
properties match them to dorsal structure and PCV specification,
respectively.
Related articles in Development:
- Matching catalytic activity to developmental function: Tolloid-related processes Sog in order to help specify the posterior crossvein in the Drosophila wing
- Mihaela Serpe, Amy Ralston, Seth S. Blair, and Michael B. O'Connor
Development 2005 132: 2645-2656.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
