morphogen-signalling modifying factors in Panarthropoda. Morphogen-signalling modifying factors in Panarthropoda

Morphogen signalling represents a key mechanism of developmental processes during animal development. Previously, several evolutionary conserved morphogen-signalling pathways have been identified and their players such as the morphogen receptors, morphogen modulating factors (MMFs), and the morphogens themselves, have been studied. MMFs are factors that regulate morphogen distribution and activity. The interactions of MMFs with different morphogen-signalling pathways such as Wnt-signalling, Hedgehog (Hh)-signalling and Decapentaplegic (Dpp)-signalling are complex because some of the MMFs have been shown to interact with more than one signalling-pathway, and depending on genetic context, to have different, biphasic or even opposing function. We investigate here the embryonic expression patterns of division abnormally delayed (dally), dally-like protein (dlp), shifted (shf), and secreted Frizzled-related protein125 (sFRP125) and sFRP34 in the beetle Tribolium castaneum, the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, the millipede Glomeris marginata and the onychophoran Euperipatoides kanangrensis.