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Tissue landscape alters adjacent cell fates during Drosophila egg development

Author

Listed:
  • Lathiena A. Manning

    (University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC))

  • Ann Marie Weideman

    (UMBC)

  • Bradford E. Peercy

    (UMBC)

  • Michelle Starz-Gaiano

    (University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC))

Abstract

Extracellular signalling molecules control many biological processes, but the influence of tissue architecture on the local concentrations of these factors is unclear. Here we examine this issue in the Drosophila egg chamber, where two anterior cells secrete Unpaired (Upd) to activate Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling in the epithelium. High STAT signalling promotes cell motility. Genetic analysis shows that all cells near the Upd source can respond. However, using upright imaging, we show surprising asymmetries in STAT activation patterns, suggesting that some cells experience different Upd levels than predicted by their location. We develop a three-dimensional mathematical model to characterize the spatio–temporal distribution of the activator. Simulations show that irregular tissue domains can produce asymmetric distributions of Upd, consistent with results in vivo. Mutant analysis substantiates this idea. We conclude that cellular landscape can heavily influence the effect of diffusible activators and should be more widely considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Lathiena A. Manning & Ann Marie Weideman & Bradford E. Peercy & Michelle Starz-Gaiano, 2015. "Tissue landscape alters adjacent cell fates during Drosophila egg development," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8356
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8356
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