Question

Drosophila early development. Just after fertilization there is a posterior to anterior gradient of Nanos protein and of Caudal protein. Describe these two mechanisms to explain how the mechanisms to establish these two protein gradients are different. Please explain in two paragraphs

Answer 1

there is posterior to anterior gradient of both nanos and caudal protein

nanos mRNA are bound to the cytoskeleton in the posterior region of the unfertilized egg and are translated there

The caudal mRNA are distributed throughout the oocyte but bicoid which are expressed in anterior at the highest gradient inhibits the caudal mRNA translation allowing it to be synthesized in the posterior only

thus both have the same posterior to anterior gradient despite caudal mRNA being present throughout the oocyte