Protein complex restricting dorsal protein:
Dorsal protein activity gradient depends on physical sequestration by Cactus inhibitor forming stable cytoplasmic heterodimer covering Dorsal nuclear localization signal and DNA-binding domain. Complex concentration high dorsally where Cactus unphosphorylated, low ventrally where Toll signaling triggers Pelle kinase phosphorylation and Slimb-mediated degradation. Gurken-Torpedo regulates follicle Pipe transcription upstream, Pipe-Spatzle regulates Toll ligand processing extracellularly, Wingless-Frizzled regulates segment polarity maintenance. Dorsal-Cactus interaction therefore represents fin
Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 9: Dorsal-Cactus complex restricting nuclear translocation - ventral degradation.