1. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse-108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
2. *These authors contributed equally to this work
3. †Present address: Department of Membrane Enzymology, Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Christoph Thiele¹Suzanne Eaton¹ Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to S.E. (Email: eaton@mpi-cbg.de) or C.T. (Email: thiele@mpi-cbg.de).

Abstract

Wnt and Hedgehog family proteins are secreted signalling molecules (morphogens) that act at both long and short range to control growth and patterning during development. Both proteins are covalently modified by lipid, and the mechanism by which such hydrophobic molecules might spread over long distances is unknown. Here we show that Wingless, Hedgehog and glycophosphatidylinositol-linked proteins copurify with lipoprotein particles, and co-localize with them in the developing wing epithelium of Drosophila. In larvae with reduced lipoprotein levels, Hedgehog accumulates near its site of production, and fails to signal over its normal range. Similarly, the range of Wingless signalling is narrowed. We propose a novel function for lipoprotein particles, in which they act as vehicles for the movement of lipid-linked morphogens and glycophosphatidylinositol-linked proteins.

1. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse-108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
2. *These authors contributed equally to this work
3. †Present address: Department of Membrane Enzymology, Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Christoph Thiele¹Suzanne Eaton¹ Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to S.E. (Email: eaton@mpi-cbg.de) or C.T. (Email: thiele@mpi-cbg.de).

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