Control of epithelial morphogenesis by cell signaling and integrin molecules in the Drosophila foregut

Coordinated cell movements are critical for tissue and organ morphogenesis in animal development. We show that the Drosophila genes hedgehog and wingless, which encode signaling molecules, and the gene myospheroid, which encodes a beta subunit of the integrins, are required for epithelial morphogenesis during proventriculus development. In contrast, this morphogenetic process is suppressed by the decapentaplegic gene, which encodes a member of the TGF beta family of growth factors. These results identify a novel cell signaling center in the foregut that directs the formation of a multiply folded organ from a simple epithelial tube.