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First published online February 22, 2008

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HSPGs blocked for early BMP signalling

Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs), which contain a core protein decorated with polysaccharide chains of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) disaccharide units, modulate the activity of many developmentally important growth factors. In Drosophila embryos, for example, they regulate Hedgehog (Hh) and Wingless (Wg) signalling. Now, surprisingly, Bornemann and co-workers reveal that HSPGs play no role in BMP signalling in early fly embryos despite their well-known role in BMP signalling in larval imaginal discs (see p. 1039). HSPGs are absent during the first 3 hours of embryonic development when the BMP gradient (which controls dorsoventral patterning) is established, they report. This is because early HSPG synthesis is prevented by a translational block of GAG synthesis that involves developmentally regulated internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs); this block is lifted when Hh and Wg signalling starts. IRES-like features are conserved in the transcripts of GAG synthesis enzymes from diverse organisms, the researchers note. Thus, translational control of HSPG synthesis might be an evolutionarily conserved way to modulate growth factor signalling.

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Related articles in Development:

A translational block to HSPG synthesis permits BMP signaling in the early Drosophila embryo

Douglas J. Bornemann, Sangbin Park, Sopheap Phin, and Rahul Warrior
Development 2008 135: 1039-1047. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?