Abstract
There is an intricate network of molecules called cell fate determinants that instruct the cells of the embryo to take on either an anterior or posterior fate. In a lively Perspective, Lehmann and her colleagues discuss new findings in the fruit fly that identify a key protein, PAR-1, which ensures that the cell fate determinants are themselves located in the correct region of the oocyte. In this way, the anterior-posterior axis is set up in the fruit fly egg before fertilization.
MeSH terms
-
Actin Cytoskeleton / physiology
-
Animals
-
Body Patterning*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology
-
Cell Polarity
-
Centrosome / physiology
-
Drosophila / embryology*
-
Drosophila / genetics
-
Drosophila / physiology
-
Drosophila Proteins*
-
Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
-
Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
-
Insect Proteins / genetics
-
Insect Proteins / metabolism
-
Microtubules / physiology
-
Mutation
-
Oocytes / physiology
-
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
-
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
-
RNA, Messenger / genetics
-
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
-
RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
-
RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
-
Signal Transduction
-
Trans-Activators / genetics
-
Trans-Activators / metabolism
Substances
-
Drosophila Proteins
-
Homeodomain Proteins
-
Insect Proteins
-
RNA, Messenger
-
RNA-Binding Proteins
-
Trans-Activators
-
bcd protein, Drosophila
-
osk protein, Drosophila
-
stau protein, Drosophila
-
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases