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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
06:12
Imaging Dpp Release from a Drosophila Wing Disc
Published on: October 30, 2019
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Coupling between dynamic 3D tissue architecture and BMP morphogen signaling during Drosophila wing morphogenesis
Jinghua Gui1, Yunxian Huang1, Martin Montanari1
1Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Summary
Tissue morphogenesis guides organ formation by reshaping 2D into 3D structures, coordinated by growth factor signaling. This study reveals how decapentaplegic (Dpp)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and 3D wing morphogenesis are coupled in Drosophila.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Tissue morphogenesis is crucial for organ formation, involving the transformation of 2D structures into 3D tissues.
- Growth factor signaling pathways, such as decapentaplegic (Dpp)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), are known to direct these developmental processes.
- The interplay between tissue shape changes and the spatiotemporal distribution of signaling molecules during morphogenesis remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the coordination between Dpp/BMP signaling and 3D wing morphogenesis in the Drosophila pupal wing.
- To understand how morphological changes during development influence the distribution of growth factor signaling.
- To elucidate the relationship between tissue architecture and signaling dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the Drosophila pupal wing as a model system.
- Analyzing the spatiotemporal dynamics of Dpp/BMP signaling during wing development.
- Investigating the correlation between 3D wing epithelial architecture and signaling patterns.
Main Results:
- Dpp diffuses laterally in dorsal and ventral epithelia to regulate cell proliferation during early wing inflation.
- Dpp localization is subsequently refined to longitudinal veins (LVs) with active interplanar signaling as epithelia appose.
- A tight coupling exists between the 3D architecture of wing epithelia and the spatial distribution of BMP signaling.
Conclusions:
- 3D wing morphogenesis is an emergent property arising from the interaction between extracellular signaling and tissue shape changes.
- The spatial distribution of BMP signaling is tightly linked to the evolving 3D architecture of the developing wing.
- This study provides insights into how developmental processes integrate signaling pathways with tissue morphogenesis.
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