A PROCESSED FORM OF THE SPATZLE PROTEIN DEFINES DORSAL-VENTRAL POLARITY IN THE DROSOPHILA EMBRYO

Citation
Ds. Schneider et al., A PROCESSED FORM OF THE SPATZLE PROTEIN DEFINES DORSAL-VENTRAL POLARITY IN THE DROSOPHILA EMBRYO, Development, 120(5), 1994, pp. 1243-1250
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Developmental Biology
Journal title
ISSN journal
09501991
Volume
120
Issue
5
Year of publication
1994
Pages
1243 - 1250
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-1991(1994)120:5<1243:APFOTS>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Stein et al. (1991) identified a soluble, extracellular factor that in duces ventral structures at the site where it is injected in the extra cellular space of the early Drosophila embryo. This factor, called pol arizing activity, has the properties predicted for a ligand for the tr ansmembrane receptor encoded by the Toll gene. Using a bioassay to fol low activity, we purified a 24x10(3) M(r) protein that has polarizing activity. The purified protein is recognized by antibodies to the C-te rminal half of the Spatzle protein, indicating that this polarizing ac tivity is a product of the spatzle gene. The purified protein is small er than the primary translation product of spatzle, suggesting that pr oteolytic processing of Spatzle on the ventral side of the embryo is r equired to generate the localized, active form of the protein.