EFFECTORS AND REGULATORS OF DECAPENTAPLEGIC ACTIVITY

果蝇的DPP基因编码一种分泌型蛋白 转化生长因子β超家族的蛋白质，它， 像脊椎动物中的同龄人一样，参与了许多 从胚胎发育到成年的发育过程。在 胚胎，DPP表现出细胞外形态原的特性， 沿腹背轴传递空间信息 胚胎。ZERKNOLULT(ZEN)基因由DPP在背侧条纹中激活， 是形成羊膜浆膜所必需的。这份提案概述了 解决DPP信号如何的问题的三个实验 从细胞外传递到细胞核。的前两行 实验试图利用果蝇遗传学的力量来识别 正常禅宗活动所需的基因，寻找显性增强子 抑制者或虚弱的禅宗突变体。这样的突变可以定义基因 在DPP信号转导通路中起作用。实验是 呈现出来是为了区分每个基因在路径中的作用位置。这个 第三条线的实验将补充基因分析 系统，并将涉及分子解剖启动子区域 禅宗基因。总而言之，这些实验应该揭示出 信号转导到转化生长因子-β家族成员的下游，并可能 深入了解转化生长因子-β在哺乳动物发育过程中的作用。

The decapentaplegic (dpp) gene in Drosophila encodes a secreted protein of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of proteins, which, like its counterparts in vertebrates, participates in numerous developmental processes from embryogenesis into adulthood. In the embryo, dpp exhibits the properties of an extracellular morphogen, conveying spatial information along the dorsal-ventral axis of the embryo. The zerknullt (zen) gene is activated by dpp in a dorsal stripe, and is required for formation of the amnioserosa. This proposal outlines three experiments to address the question of how the dpp signal is transduced from outside the cell to the nucleus. The first two lines of experiments seek to use the power of Drosophila genetics to identify genes required for proper zen activity, looking for dominant enhancers and suppressors or weak zen mutants. Such mutations could define genes that act in the dpp signal transduction pathway. Experiments are presented to distinguish where within the pathway each gene acts. The third line of experiments will complement the genetic analysis of the system and will involve a molecular dissection of the promoter region of the zen gene. Together these experiments should shed light on how signals are transduced downstream of TGF-beta family members and could provide insight into the roles of TGF-beta during mammalian development.