Unequal cell division as a driving force during differentiation.
Unequal cell division, leading to daughter cells of different sizes, is a common event during development. We have formulated a model that shows how different cell sizes can lead to significant differences in the expression of an activator gene. The model is based on well-known aspects of the regulation of gene expression, specifically the existence of multiple regulatory sites, positive autoregulation, and the short half-life of regulatory proteins. Thus the daughter cells may follow distinct differentiation pathways even if there were no localized determinants in the mother cell.
Treinin
M
M
Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, NY 10027.
Feitelson
D G
DG
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic