Iron, D., Syed, A., Theisen, H., Lukacsovich, T., Naghibi, M., Marsh, L.J., Wan, F.Y.M., Nie, Q. (2008). The role of feedback in the formation of morphogen territories. Math. Biosci. Eng. 5(2): 277--298.
FlyBase ID
FBrf0204588
Publication Type
Research paper
Abstract
In this paper, we consider a mathematical model for the formation of spatial morphogen territories of two key morphogens: Wingless (Wg) and Decapentaplegic (DPP), involved in leg development of Drosophila. We define a gene regulatory network (GRN) that utilizes autoactivation and cros-sinhibition (modeled by Hill equations) to establish and maintain stable boundaries of gene expression. By computational analysis we find that in the presence of a general activator, neither autoactivation, nor cross-inhibition alone are sufficient to maintain stable sharp boundaries of morphogen production in the leg disc. The minimal requirements for a self-organizing system are a coupled system of two morphogens in which the autoactivation and cross-inhibition have Hill coefficients strictly greater than one. In addition, the GRN modeled here describes the regenerative responses to genetic manipulations of positional identity in the leg disc.
