Cells change their sensitivity to an EGF morphogen gradient to control EGF-induced gene expression.
File(s)
Published Version
Author(s)
van Zon, JS
Kienle, S
Huelsz-Prince, G
Barkoulas, M
van Oudenaarden, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
How cells in developing organisms interpret the quantitative information contained in morphogen gradients is an open question. Here we address this question using a novel integrative approach that combines quantitative measurements of morphogen-induced gene expression at single-mRNA resolution with mathematical modelling of the induction process. We focus on the induction of Notch ligands by the LIN-3/EGF morphogen gradient during vulva induction in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that LIN-3/EGF-induced Notch ligand expression is highly dynamic, exhibiting an abrupt transition from low to high expression. Similar transitions in Notch ligand expression are observed in two highly divergent wild C. elegans isolates. Mathematical modelling and experiments show that this transition is driven by a dynamic increase in the sensitivity of the induced cells to external LIN-3/EGF. Furthermore, this increase in sensitivity is independent of the presence of LIN-3/EGF. Our integrative approach might be useful to study induction by morphogen gradients in other systems.
Date Issued
2015-05-11
Date Acceptance
2015-03-26
Citation
Nature Communications, 2015, 6, pp.7053-7053
ISSN
2041-1723
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
7053
End Page
7053
Journal / Book Title
Nature Communications
Volume
6
Copyright Statement
© 2015, Rights Managed by Nature Publishing Group. The article for which you have requested permission has been distributed under a Creative Commons CC-BY license (please see the article itself for the license version number). You may reuse this material without obtaining permission from Nature Publishing Group, providing that the author and the original source of publication are fully acknowledged, as per the terms of the license.
License URL
Identifier
PII: ncomms8053
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
7053