Morphogen Gradients: From Generation to Interpretation

2011/03/03 by Katherine W. Rogers, Alexander F. Schier · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation #Cellular Mechanics and Interactions #Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer

paper · doi:10.1146/annurev-cellbio-092910-154148

openalex publication_date 2011/03/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Morphogens are long-range signaling molecules that pattern developing tissues in a concentration-dependent manner. The graded activity of morphogens within tissues exposes cells to different signal levels and leads to region-specific transcriptional responses and cell fates. In its simplest incarnation, a morphogen signal forms a gradient by diffusion from a local source and clearance in surrounding tissues. Responding cells often transduce morphogen levels in a linear fashion, which results in the graded activation of transcriptional effectors. The concentration-dependent expression of morphogen target genes is achieved by their different binding affinities for transcriptional effectors as well as inputs from other transcriptional regulators. Morphogen distribution and interpretation are the result of complex interactions between the morphogen and responding tissues. The response to a morphogen is dependent not simply on morphogen concentration but also on the duration of morphogen exposure and the state of the target cells. In this review, we describe the morphogen concept and discuss the mechanisms that underlie the generation, modulation, and interpretation of morphogen gradients.

Citations

• The chemical basis of morphogenesis
• The Biochemical Basis of an All-or-None Cell Fate Switch in Xenopus Oocytes
• Positional information and the spatial pattern of cellular differentiation
• A gradient of bicoid protein in Drosophila embryos
• When it pays to rush: interpreting morphogen gradients prior to steady-state
• Spatial bistability of Dpp–receptor interactions during Drosophila dorsal–ventral patterning

Cited by

• Aggregation-fragmentation model of robust concentration gradient formation
• Wnt-regulated dynamics of positional information in zebrafish somitogenesis
• From Natural to Artificial Camouflage: Components and Systems
• Mechanical force-driven cell competition ensures robust morphogen gradient formation
• Developmental biology [wikipedia]

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• Theoretical analysis of degradation mechanisms in the formation of morphogen gradients
• When it pays to rush: interpreting morphogen gradients prior to steady-state
• Robust Formation of Morphogen Gradients
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• Decoding of position in the developing neural tube from antiparallel morphogen gradients