Abstract
Intercellular signalling via growth factors plays an important role in controlling cell differentiation and cell movements during the development of multicellular animals. Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signalling induces changes in cellular behaviour allowing cells in the embryo to move, to survive, to divide or to differentiate. Several examples argue that FGF signalling is used in multi-step morphogenetic processes to achieve and maintain a transitional state of the cells required for the control of cell fate. In the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster, FGF signalling via the receptor tyrosine kinases Heartless (Htl) and Breathless (Btl) is particularly well studied. These FGF receptors affect gene expression, cell shape and cell–cell interactions during mesoderm layer formation, caudal visceral muscle (CVM) formation, tracheal morphogenesis and glia differentiation. Here, we will address the current knowledge of the biological functions of FGF signalling in the fly on the tissue, at a cellular and molecular level.
Highlights
Drosophila melanogaster as a Versatile Model for FGF Signalling ResearchFibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) were first discovered in mammals and the horizon of insect FGF research opened up with the discovery of the first FGF receptor (FGFR) gene in Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that FGF signalling is evolutionary conserved [1]
Intercellular signalling via growth factors plays an important role in controlling cell differentiation and cell movements during the development of multicellular animals
Aberrant migration of tracheal cells in embryos deficient for the btl locus implied a function of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signalling in cell motility [1,4] and Pyr and Ths were identified in screens for genes involved in mesoderm development [5,6,7]
Summary
Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) were first discovered in mammals and the horizon of insect FGF research opened up with the discovery of the first FGF receptor (FGFR) gene in Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that FGF signalling is evolutionary conserved [1]. In Drosophila, the htl and btl genes are expressed in distinct tissues and during different developmental times, providing independent models to investigate FGF signalling pathways in many different developmental processes. Aberrant migration of tracheal cells in embryos deficient for the btl locus implied a function of FGF signalling in cell motility [1,4] and Pyr and Ths were identified in screens for genes involved in mesoderm development [5,6,7]. The formation of intricate branching patterns of the respiratory system, lungs and trachea, is controlled by similar ontogenetic principles in their formation, they are evolutionary convergent structures Branch formation of both organs is orchestrated by FGF signalling: Fgfr2-IIIb/FGF10 in human and Btl/Bnl in Drosophila [12]. FGF provides conserved signalling mechanisms employed for the formation of the germ layers in gastrulation and the specification of mesodermal, endodermal and ectodermal derivatives in insects and vertebrates
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