Development Core
One of my objectives over these next two weeks is to present an overview of important
developmental events and mechanisms that specify pattern. We will cover Drosophila
development chronologically starting from oogenesis, through embryogenesis and imaginal disc
development. Only a few processes will be highlighted to illustrate how pattern is generated and
elaborated. We cannot cover all the relevant evidence underlying current “understanding” but a
few papers will be examined to make clear the types of experiments that have been performed
and the logic used in drawing conclusions.
Both review papers and original research papers are listed below. They are listed as
relevant to specific days and there are a lot of them. I don’t expect all of them to be read. As the
class proceeds I will inform you more precisely about whether the schedule is changing (we will
likely go slower than tabulated and miss out some sub-topics) and which papers are most
important to read prior to the next class. Reading these papers is an essential part of the class. If
you read review papers before, rather than after class you will probably absorb more from each
class. Research papers to be discussed in some detail must be read before class, otherwise you
cannot discuss them. Discussion of research papers is only fun and informative if there is
widespread participation (my opinion).
It would help a great deal if you read ref. 1 before the first class to get an overview. I
hope to discuss ref. 2 in some detail, so that should be read carefully before class. (ref. 2 is there
in case you are interested to read further).
Classes will be M,T,W, F as for (most) other sections of the Core and Fridays will include
discussion of 1 or 2 papers. However, I haven’t yet designated which papers they will be (from
those below) because I want to check progress and see which might be found most interesting.
Each section of the Core requires some assessment. Presently, I expect to give you a takehome assignment (on 4/9 or 4/11 to be handed in 4/14), consisting of a few questions on material
we covered plus asking for a short critique of a research paper with suggestions for follow-ups.
Monday 3/31
1.
2.
3.
Riechmann, V. and A. Ephrussi, Axis formation during Drosophila oogenesis. Curr Opin Genet
Dev, 2001. 11(4): p. 374-83.
Lin, H., The stem-cell niche theory: lessons from flies. Nat Rev Genet, 2002. 3(12): p. 931-40.
Godt, D. and U. Tepass, Drosophila oocyte localization is mediated by differential cadherinbased adhesion. Nature, 1998. 395(6700): p. 387-91.
Tuesday 4/1
4.
5.
Rorth, P., Initiating and guiding migration: lessons from border cells. Trends Cell Biol, 2002.
12(7): p. 325-31.
Wimmer, E.A., et al., Bicoid-independent formation of thoracic segments in Drosophila.
Science, 2000. 287(5462): p. 2476-9.
1
Wednesday 4/2
6.
7.
8.
Shvartsman, S.Y., C.B. Muratov, and D.A. Lauffenburger, Modeling and computational
analysis of EGF receptor-mediated cell communication in Drosophila oogenesis. Development,
2002. 129(11): p. 2577-89.
Pai, L.M., G. Barcelo, and T. Schupbach, D-cbl, a negative regulator of the Egfr pathway, is
required for dorsoventral patterning in Drosophila oogenesis. Cell, 2000. 103(1): p. 51-61.
Peri, F., M. Technau, and S. Roth, Mechanisms of Gurken-dependent pipe regulation and the
robustness of dorsoventral patterning in Drosophila. Development, 2002. 129(12): p. 2965-75.
Friday 4/4
9.
10.
11.
Stathopoulos, A. and M. Levine, Dorsal gradient networks in the Drosophila embryo. Dev
Biol, 2002. 246(1): p. 57-67.
Meinhardt, H. and S. Roth, Developmental biology: sharp peaks from shallow sources. Nature,
2002. 419(6904): p. 261-2.
Eldar, A., et al., Robustness of the BMP morphogen gradient in Drosophila embryonic
patterning. Nature, 2002. 419(6904): p. 304-8.
Mon. 4/7
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Leptin, M., Gastrulation in Drosophila: the logic and the cellular mechanisms. Embo J, 1999.
18(12): p. 3187-92.
Settleman, J., Rac 'n Rho: the music that shapes a developing embryo. Dev Cell, 2001. 1(3): p.
321-31.
Baylies, M.K. and A.M. Michelson, Invertebrate myogenesis: looking back to the future of
muscle development. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 2001. 11(4): p. 431-9.
Taylor, M.V., Muscle differentiation: how two cells become one. Curr Biol, 2002. 12(6): p.
R224-8.
Skeath, J.B. and S. Thor, Genetic control of Drosophila nerve cord development. Curr Opin
Neurobiol, 2003. 13(1): p. 8-15.
Tue. 4/8
17.
18.
19.
Doe, C.Q. and B. Bowerman, Asymmetric cell division: fly neuroblast meets worm zygote. Curr
Opin Cell Biol, 2001. 13(1): p. 68-75.
Brody, T. and W.F. Odenwald, Cellular diversity in the developing nervous system: a temporal
view from Drosophila. Development, 2002. 129(16): p. 3763-70.
Cai, Y., et al., Apical complex genes control mitotic spindle geometry and relative size of
daughter cells in Drosophila neuroblast and pI asymmetric divisions. Cell, 2003. 112(1): p. 5162.
Wed. 4/9
20.
Lawrence, P.A., Morphogens: how big is the big picture? Nat Cell Biol, 2001. 3(7): p. E151-4.
2
21.
22.
23.
24.
Tepass, U., D. Godt, and R. Winklbauer, Cell sorting in animal development: signalling and
adhesive mechanisms in the formation of tissue boundaries. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 2002. 12(5):
p. 572-82.
Campbell, G. and A. Tomlinson, Transducing the Dpp morphogen gradient in the wing of
Drosophila: regulation of Dpp targets by brinker. Cell, 1999. 96(4): p. 553-62.
Entchev, E.V., A. Schwabedissen, and M. Gonzalez-Gaitan, Gradient formation of the TGFbeta homolog Dpp. Cell, 2000. 103(6): p. 981-91.
Moreno, E., K. Basler, and G. Morata, Cells compete for decapentaplegic survival factor to
prevent apoptosis in Drosophila wing development. Nature, 2002. 416(6882): p. 755-9.
Fri. 4/11
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
Weatherbee, S.D., et al., Ultrabithorax regulates genes at several levels of the wing-patterning
hierarchy to shape the development of the Drosophila haltere. Genes Dev, 1998. 12(10): p.
1474-82.
Curtiss, J., G. Halder, and M. Mlodzik, Selector and signalling molecules cooperate in organ
patterning. Nat Cell Biol, 2002. 4(3): p. E48-51.
Pichaud, F. and C. Desplan, Pax genes and eye organogenesis. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 2002.
12(4): p. 430-4.
Affolter, M. and R. Mann, Development. Legs, eyes, or wings--selectors and signals make the
difference. Science, 2001. 292(5519): p. 1080-1.
Oldham, S., et al., Genetic control of size in Drosophila. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci,
2000. 355(1399): p. 945-52.
3