Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
08:06
A Microfluidics Approach for the Functional Investigation of Signaling Oscillations Governing Somitogenesis
Published on: March 19, 2021
2.9K
The effects of Hh morphogen source movement on signaling dynamics
David G Míguez1, Antonella Iannini2, Diana García-Morales2
1Departmento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Instituto de Física de la Materia Condensada (IFIMAC), Facultad de Ciencias, and Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|November 10, 2022
Summary
Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, crucial for development, shows distinct spatial patterns in Drosophila organs. These differences, influenced by feedback loops and source displacement, reveal how conserved pathways achieve diverse cellular responses.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
- Genetics
Background:
- Hedgehog (Hh) family morphogens regulate cell fate, proliferation, and metabolism via concentration-dependent gene expression.
- A conserved signaling pathway underlies Hh responses, featuring a negative-feedback loop involving the Patched (Ptc) receptor.
- Understanding spatial signaling dynamics is key to deciphering the pathway's versatility across different tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare spatial signaling profiles downstream of Hh in various developing Drosophila organs.
- To investigate the role of the negative-feedback loop and Hh source displacement in shaping these profiles.
- To elucidate how spatial and temporal dynamics contribute to the informational versatility of Hh signaling.
Main Methods:
- Experimental analysis of Hh pathway components in Drosophila.
- Computational modeling of signaling dynamics.
- Comparative study of spatial distributions of Ptc and CiA in wing, antenna, ocellus, and compound eye.
Main Results:
- Spatial distributions of Ptc and CiA showed similar features in wing, antenna, and ocellus.
- These profiles differed significantly from that observed in the compound eye.
- Two distinct profile types suggest different time points in signaling dynamics.
Conclusions:
- The interplay between Hh source displacement and the negative-feedback loop in the compound eye maintains cells in an earlier signaling state.
- Distinct spatial signaling profiles arise from the interaction of spatial and temporal dynamics.
- This mechanism contributes to the diverse cellular responses mediated by the conserved Hh signaling pathway.
Related Concept Videos
02:33Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
7.4K
The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
7.4K
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
4.4K
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
4.4K
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
6.4K
Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
6.4K
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
2.7K
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
2.7K
01:22Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
6.7K
The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity.
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
6.7K
01:32Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
4.8K
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
4.8K