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Proximal–distal axis formation in the Drosophila leg

Nature volume 388, pages 139–145 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Limb development requires the formation of a proximal–distal axis perpendicular to the main anterior–posterior and dorsal–ventral body axes. The secreted signalling proteins Decapentaplegic and Wingless act in a concentration-dependent manner to organize the proximal–distal axis. Discrete domains of proximal–distal gene expression are defined by different thresholds of Decapentaplegic and Wingless activities. Subsequent modulation of the relative sizes of these domains by growth of the leg is required to form the mature pattern.

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Figure 1: Subdivision of the P–D axis by expression of Dll and Dac.
Figure 2: Wg and Dpp do not act by relay of another signal to induce Dll.
Figure 3: Wg signalling is required for induction, but not maintenance, of Dll and Dac.
Figure 4: Dpp signalling is required for induction, but not maintenance, of Dll and Dac.
Figure 5: Distinct thresholds for activation of Dll and Dac by Wg and Dpp.
Figure 6: Repression of Dac by high levels of Wg and Dpp.
Figure 7: Roles of Wg and Dpp in the D–V and P–D axes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Struhl, K. Basler and K. Cadigan for fly strains; G. Panganiban and G.Mardon for antibodies; and M. Averof, W. Brook, J. Royet and K. Weigmann for suggestions on the manuscript.

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  1. European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    Thomas Lecuit & Stephen M. Cohen

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Correspondence to Stephen M. Cohen.

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Lecuit, T., Cohen, S. Proximal–distal axis formation in the Drosophila leg. Nature 388, 139–145 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/40563

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