The evolutionarily conserved BMP-binding protein Twisted gastrulation promotes BMP signalling

Michael Oelgeschläger, Juan Larraín, Douglas Geissert and Eddy M. De Robertis ()
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Michael Oelgeschläger: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry University of California
Juan Larraín: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry University of California
Douglas Geissert: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry University of California
Eddy M. De Robertis: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry University of California

Nature, 2000, vol. 405, issue 6788, 757-763

Abstract: Abstract Dorsal–ventral patterning in vertebrate and Drosophila embryos requires a conserved system of extracellular proteins to generate a positional information gradient. The components involved include bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP/Dpp), a BMP antagonist (Chordin/Short gastrulation; Chd/Sog) and a secreted metalloproteinase (Xolloid/Tolloid) that cleaves Chd/Sog. Here we describe Xenopus Twisted gastrulation (xTsg), another member of this signalling pathway. xTsg is expressed ventrally as part of the BMP-4 synexpression group and encodes a secreted BMP-binding protein that is a BMP signalling agonist. The data suggest a molecular mechanism by which xTsg dislodges latent BMPs bound to Chordin BMP-binding fragments generated by Xolloid cleavage, providing a permissive signal that allows high BMP signalling in the embryo. Drosophila Tsg also binds BMPs and is expressed dorsally, supporting the proposal that the dorsal–ventral axis was inverted in the course of animal evolution.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35015500

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