Does bicoid function as a morphogen?

Bicoid (Bcd) functions as a morphogen during Drosophila development. Accordingly, bcd mRNA is maternally localized to the anterior pole of the embryo, and Bcd forms an anterior/posterior gradient, which functions in a concentration dependent fashion.

Is Bicoid protein a morphogen?

Bicoid is the protein product of a maternal-effect gene unique to flies of the genus Drosophila. In 1988 Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard identified bicoid as the first known morphogen.

Is bicoid maternal or zygotic?

First, bicoid is a maternal effect gene. Messenger RNA from the mother’s bicoid genes is placed in the embryo by the mother’s ovarian cells (Figure 9.13A; Frigerio et al.

What is the function of the Bicoid protein?

Bicoid (Bcd) protein distributes in a concentration gradient that organizes the anterior/posterior axis of the Drosophila embryo.

Is bicoid a cytoplasmic determinant?

Fertilization triggers the translation of the localized bicoid mRNA and formation of the Bicoid protein gradient. Remember, the bicoid mRNA is the cytoplasmic determinant while the Bicoid protein is the morphogen. The experiments shown below prove that bicoid mRNA is the anterior cytoplasmic determinant.

Why is bicoid research important?

Thus Bicoid has an essential role in establishing the anterior-posterior axis of Drosophila, its gradient acting to position the transcription of gap and pair rule genes along the anterior-posterior axis. Bicoid mRNA translation is posttranscriptionally regulated by Nanos protein.

What type of protein is bicoid?

Bicoid is one of the few proteins which uses its homeodomain to bind both DNA and RNA targets to regulate their transcription and translation, respectively. The nucleic acid-binding homeodomain of Bicoid has been solved by NMR.

Is bicoid anterior?

bicoid is expressed in the anterior egg region, where it exerts its role in patterning the anterior body of the larval fly.

What is the biological function of the Bicoid gene product?

Bicoid (Bcd) controls embryonic gene expression by transcriptional activation and translational repression. Both functions require the homeodomain (HD), which recognizes DNA motifs at target gene enhancers and a specific sequence interval in the 3′ untranslated region of Caudal (CAD) mRNA.

What is the role of protein Bicoid in the anterior posterior patterning in early Drosophila embryo?

Bicoid and Hunchback are the maternal effect genes that are most important for patterning of anterior parts (head and thorax) of the Drosophila embryo. Nanos and Caudal are maternal effect genes that are important in the formation of more posterior abdominal segments of the Drosophila embryo.

What is the biological function of the bicoid gene product?

Why are bicoid and Nanos classified as maternal effect genes?

Nanos and Caudal are maternal effect genes that are important in the formation of more posterior abdominal segments of the Drosophila embryo. In embryos from bicoid mutant mothers, the head and thoracic structures are converted to the abdomen making the embryo with posterior structures on both ends, a lethal phenotype.