Novel targets of BMP/DPP signaling during Drosophila wing disc development
Milan Szuperak
The BMP signaling pathway plays a key role in controlling growth and epithelial morphogenesis during development of the Drosophila wing disc. The BMP homolog Decapentaplegic (DPP) forms a morphogen gradient orthogonal to the tissue A/P axis, establishing distinct territories of differential gene expression. At the present time, all of the known DPP target genes are transcription factors and the DPP/BMP effector molecules that ultimately regulate proliferation and morphogenesis remain unknown. To identify such genes, we performed a microarray screen, comparing DPP-deprived epithelial cells to wild type controls. This approach identified novel genes showing specific expression pattern in the wing imaginal disc. Presently, we are analyzing the candidate genes using molecular, genetic, biochemical, and imaging techniques. One particularly promising candidate appears to be a direct (threshold-independent) transcriptional target of DPP/BMP signaling.