How to pattern a tissue?—Knowledge from Drosophila wing model system
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Key Words：tissue patterning, morphogen, Drosophila, Decapentaplegic (Dpp)
Abstract：One of the basic questions in organ development is that how do cells receive instruction to form a spatial pattern. In the early stage of organ development, the selector genes subdivide tissue into several compartments by differentiating cell affinity in adjacent compartments. Compartment boundary cells serve as organizers via secreting signal molecules (morphogens) that direct a number of cellular responding, such as promoting survival and proliferation, specifying cell fate and differentiation, and ensuring correct cell morphogenesis. The spatiotemporal expression of morphogens and the subsequent cellular responding to these signal molecules are crucial for correct tissue patterning. In this review, we summarize recent progress in tissue patterning and discuss the role of Decapentaplegic (Dpp) morphogen, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, in Drosophila wing development.