Dynamics of Inductive ERK Signaling in the Drosophila Embryo

• Published in: Current biology 2015-06, Vol.25 (13), p.1784-1790
• Main Authors: Lim, Bomyi, Dsilva, Carmeline J., Levario, Thomas J., Lu, Hang, Schüpbach, Trudi, Kevrekidis, Ioannis G., Shvartsman, Stanislav Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autocrine Communication - physiology; Drosophila; Drosophila - physiology; Embryo, Nonmammalian - physiology; Enzyme Activation - physiology; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; In Situ Hybridization; Kinetics; MAP Kinase Signaling System - physiology; Microscopy, Confocal; Models, Biological; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0960-9822; 1879-0445
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.039

Transient activation of the highly conserved extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) establishes precise patterns of cell fates in developing tissues. Quantitative parameters of these transients are essentially unknown, but a growing number of studies suggest that changes in these parameters can lead to a broad spectrum of developmental abnormalities. We provide a detailed quantitative picture of an ERK-dependent inductive signaling event in the early Drosophila embryo, an experimental system that offers unique opportunities for high-throughput studies of developmental signaling. Our analysis reveals a spatiotemporal pulse of ERK activation that is consistent with a model in which transient production of a short-ranged ligand feeds into a simple signal interpretation system. The pulse of ERK signaling acts as a switch in controlling the expression of the ERK target gene. The quantitative approach that led to this model, based on the integration of data from fixed embryos and live imaging, can be extended to other developmental systems patterned by transient inductive signals. •High-resolution analysis of ERK dynamics in the early fly embryo•Autocrine regulation of transient ERK signaling•Switch-like control of neurogenic gene by transient ERK signal Lim et al. use high-throughput imaging experiments to reconstruct the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling dynamics in the early Drosophila embryo, revealing a sharp pulse of ERK activation that works as a switch inducing the expression of a neurogenic gene.