Abstract

The Drosophila proteases Gastrulation Defective and Snake function in embryonic polarity establishment and bind heparin, a surrogate for anionic species present in the extracellular matrix. Here we demonstrate binding of GD, but not Snake, to anionic species that appear to be tightly associated with a highly purified eggshell matrix.

Keywords: Gastrulation Defective, Snake, Pipe, embryonic polarity, serine protease cascade, Drosophila