XB-ART-37117
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
2008 Apr 12;3631495:1387-92. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2256.
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Understanding how morphogens work.
Smith JC, Hagemann A, Saka Y, Williams PH.
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In this article, we describe the mechanisms by which morphogens in the Xenopus embryo exert their long-range effects. Our results are consistent with the idea that signalling molecules such as activin and the nodal-related proteins traverse responding tissue not by transcytosis or by cytonemes but by movement through the extracellular space. We suggest, however, that additional experiments, involving real-time imaging of morphogens, are required for a real understanding of what influences signalling range and the shape of a morphogen gradient.
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Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: nodal
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