Drier E A, Steward R
Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08544, USA.
Semin Cancer Biol. 1997 Apr;8(2):83-92. doi: 10.1006/scbi.1997.0059.
Embryonic dorsoventral polarity in Drosophila melanogaster is determined by a maternally-encoded signal transduction pathway whose effector molecule is the Rel transcription factor, Dorsal. The activity of this signal transduction pathway gives rise to a ventral-to-dorsal nuclear gradient of Dorsal, which then activates and represses several zygotic target genes in distinct domains. The dorsoventral system represents the best characterized of the Rel pathways. Its components have now been ordered and their biochemical roles are becoming clearer. Key components of the dorsoventral pathway show striking similarity to those involved with the regulation of vertebrate Rel family members. Additional Drosophila Rel family members have been identified and implicated in the innate immune response. The dorsoventral pathway is also remarkably conserved in this response. This conservation underscores the relevance of the dorsoventral system for our understanding of the entire Rel family.
黑腹果蝇胚胎的背腹极性由一条母源编码的信号转导通路决定，该通路的效应分子是Rel转录因子背蛋白（Dorsal）。这条信号转导通路的活性产生了从腹侧到背侧的背蛋白核梯度，进而在不同区域激活和抑制多个合子靶基因。背腹系统是Rel通路中特征最明确的。其组成成分现已确定，它们的生化作用也越来越清晰。背腹通路的关键成分与参与脊椎动物Rel家族成员调控的成分有显著相似性。已鉴定出果蝇的其他Rel家族成员，并发现它们与先天免疫反应有关。在这种反应中，背腹通路也非常保守。这种保守性突出了背腹系统对于我们理解整个Rel家族的重要性。
