Transforming growth factor-beta-related genes in Drosophila and vertebrate development

The Drosophila decapentaplegic gene, the Xenopus activin genes and the genes encoding the mouse bone morphogenetic proteins are transforming growth factor-beta-related genes whose roles in development are the focus of current studies. They exhibit elaborate patterns of expression during development, and the protein products have potent effects on the differentiation of specific cell types.