Click here to close Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a current version of Chrome, FireFox, or Safari.
XB-ART-12545
Semin Cell Dev Biol 1999 Jun 01;103:319-26. doi: 10.1006/scdb.1999.0308.
Show Gene links Show Anatomy links

A gradient of BMP activity specifies dorsal-ventral fates in early Xenopus embryos.

Dale L , Wardle FC .


???displayArticle.abstract???
BMP-4 is an extracellular signalling molecule belonging to the TGF-beta superfamily that plays a central role in dorsoventral patterning in vertebrate gastrulae. We review the evidence indicating that BMP-4 acts as a morphogen, specifying dorsoventral positional values in a concentration-dependent manner. An activity gradient of BMP-4 is established not by simple diffusion from a localised source, but by diffusion of inhibitory binding proteins that act on a uniform level of BMP-4 protein. These in turn are regulated by the activity of tolloid-related metalloproteases, such as Xenopus xolloid and zebrafish tolloid.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 10441546
???displayArticle.link??? Semin Cell Dev Biol
???displayArticle.grants??? [+]

Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: bmp1 bmp4 tgfb1 tll2