Cell-based simulation of dynamic expression patterns in the presomitic mesoderm.
To model dynamic expression patterns in somitogenesis we developed a Java-application for simulating gene regulatory networks in many cells in parallel and visualising the results using the Java3D API, thus simulating the collective behaviour of many thousand cells. According to the 'clock-and-wave-front' model mesodermal segmentation of vertebrate embryos is regulated by a 'segmentation clock', which oscillates with a period of about 2h in mice, and a 'wave front' moving back with the growing caudal end of the presomitic mesoderm. The clock is realised through cycling expression of genes such as Hes1 and Hes7, whose gene products repress the transcription of their encoding genes in a negative feedback loop. By coupling the decay of the Hes1 mRNA to a gradient with the same features and mechanism of formation as the mesodermal Fgf8 gradient we can simulate typical features of the dynamic expression pattern of Hes1 in the presomitic mesoderm. Furthermore, our program is able to synchronise Hes1 oscillations in thousands of cells through simulated Delta-Notch signalling interactions.
Tiedemann
Hendrik B
HB
Institute of Experimental Genetics, GSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
Schneltzer
Elida
E
Zeiser
Stefan
S
Rubio-Aliaga
Isabel
I
Wurst
Wolfgang
W
Beckers
Johannes
J
Przemeck
Gerhard K H
GK
Hrabé de Angelis
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D019170:Somites / Q000166:cytology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C064045:delta protein