Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
19:56
Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology
Published on: May 11, 2013
ovo/svb integrates Wingless and DER pathways to control epidermis differentiation.
F Payre1, A Vincent, S Carreno
1Centre de Biologie du Développement, UMR5547, Toulouse, France. payre@cict.fr
Nature
|July 27, 1999
Summary
The ovo/shavenbaby (svb) gene acts as a master regulator in Drosophila, controlling epidermal cell fate. It dictates whether cells form smooth cuticles or denticles by integrating signals from Wingless and epidermal growth factor receptor pathways.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Epidermal differentiation in Drosophila and mammals involves complex signaling pathways.
- The ovo/shavenbaby (svb) gene family encodes transcription factors crucial for development.
- Drosophila epidermis exhibits cell-type diversity, producing either naked cuticle or denticles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of the ovo/shavenbaby (svb) gene in controlling cell fate during Drosophila epidermal differentiation.
- To investigate how Wingless and Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (DER) signaling pathways interact to regulate svb expression and subsequent cell fate decisions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene expression patterns during Drosophila embryogenesis.
- Investigating the function of the ovo/svb gene in cell-autonomous determination of epidermal cell fates.
- Studying the regulatory interactions between signaling pathways (Wingless, DER) and the svb gene.
Main Results:
- The svb gene functions as a key selector gene, cell-autonomously directing cytoskeletal changes for denticle formation.
- Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (DER) pathway activation promotes denticle production by upregulating svb expression.
- Wingless signaling promotes the smooth cell fate by repressing svb transcription via the Armadillo/dTcf complex.
Conclusions:
- Transcriptional regulation of svb integrates inputs from Wingless and DER signaling pathways.
- svb acts as a central mediator in the decision-making process for epidermal differentiation in Drosophila.
- Understanding svb regulation provides insights into conserved mechanisms of epidermal development.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
01:11Papillary Dermis
Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and...
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and...
01:21Accessory Structures of the Skin: Sebaceous Glands
A sebaceous gland is a type of oil gland found almost all over the skin ( except palms and soles) and helps lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair. Most sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles. They generate and excrete sebum, a mixture of lipids, onto the skin surface, thereby naturally lubricating the dry and dead layer of keratinized cells of the stratum corneum, keeping it pliable.
These glands that produce the oils on the skin and hair are holocrine glands. The mature...
These glands that produce the oils on the skin and hair are holocrine glands. The mature...
01:15Reticular Dermis
The papillary and reticular dermis are the two layers of the dermis. They are made of connective tissue with fibers of collagen extending from one to the other, making the border between the two somewhat indistinct. The dermal papillae extending into the epidermis belong to the papillary layer, whereas the dense collagen fiber bundles below belong to the reticular layer.
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...