Perturbation analysis of a multi-morphogen Turing Reaction-Diffusion stripe patterning system reveals key regulatory interactions

Andrew Economou, Nicholas A.M. Monk, Jeremy Green

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
183 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Periodic patterning is widespread in development and can be modelled by reaction-diffusion (RD) processes. However, minimal two-component RD descriptions are vastly simpler than the multi-molecular events that actually occur and are often hard to relate to real interactions measured experimentally. Addressing these issues, we investigated the periodic striped patterning of the rugae (transverse ridges) in the mammalian oral palate, focusing on multiple previously implicated pathways: FGF, Hh, Wnt and BMP. For each, we experimentally identified spatial patterns of activity and distinct responses of the system to inhibition. Through numerical and analytical approaches, we were able to constrain substantially the number of network structures consistent with the data. Determination of the dynamics of pattern appearance further revealed its initiation by 'activators' FGF and Wnt, and 'inhibitor' Hh, whereas BMP and mesenchyme-specific-FGF signalling were incorporated once stripes were formed. This further limited the number of possible networks. Experimental constraint thus limited the number of possible minimal networks to 154, just 0.004% of the number of possible diffusion-driven instability networks. Together, these studies articulate the principles of multi-morphogen RD patterning and demonstrate the utility of perturbation analysis for constraining RD systems.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberdev190553
Number of pages13
JournalDevelopment (Cambridge)
Volume147
Issue number20
Early online date29 Oct 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Morphogens
  • Palate
  • Patterning
  • Reaction-diffusion
  • Rugae

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