Decapentaplegic/DPP: Proteins and Enzymes

Decapentaplegic (Dpp) is one of at least five TGF-beta superfamily ligands identified in the Drosophila genome. Dpp, a functional orthologue of mammalian BMP-2 and BMP-4, is a morphogen and plays an essential role in Drosophila development. Dpp regulates embryonic dorsal-ventral polarity and is required for gut morphogenesis and outgrowth and patterning of imaginal disks. Cellular responses to Dpp are mediated by the ligand-induced formation of heteromeric complexes of the Drosophila ...