Molecular Systems Biology 6 Article number: 425 doi:10.1038/msb.2010.74
Published online: 2 November 2010
Citation: Molecular Systems Biology 6:425
An atlas of gene regulatory networks reveals multiple three-gene mechanisms for interpreting morphogen gradients
James Cotterell1,2 & James Sharpe1,3
EMBL-CRG Systems Biology Research Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), UPF, Barcelona, Spain
MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
ICREA, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), UPF, Barcelona, Spain
Correspondence to: James Sharpe1,3 EMBL-CRG Systems Biology Research Unit, Center for Genomic Regulation, PRBB, 88 Dr Aiguader, Barcelona 08003, Spain. Tel.: +34 93 316 0098; Fax: +34 93 316 0099; Email: james.sharpe@crg.es
Received 1 April 2010; Accepted 4 August 2010; Published online 2 November 2010
Article highlights
Although >450 different topologies can achieve the same multicellular patterning function, they can be grouped into six main classes, which operate using different underlying dynamics.
Alternative designs for the same functions can therefore split into two types: (a) topology alterations that retain the same underlying dynamics and (b) alterations that utilize a completely different underlying dynamical mechanism.
This segregation of networks into distinct dynamical mechanisms can be revealed by the shape of the topology atlas itself.
Cell–cell communication is not usually part of the causal mechanism underlying a band-pass response during morphogen interpretation, but it can tune the result or increase robustness.
Synopsis
Understanding how gene regulatory networks (GRNs) achieve particular biological functions is a central question in systems biology. Systems biology promises to go beyond a case-by-case understanding of individual networks to map out the complete design space of mechanistic possibilities that underlie biological functions. Can such maps serve as useful theoretical frameworks in which to explore the general design principles for these functions? Towards addressing these questions, we created the first design space for a morphogen interpretation function.
In order to generate a design space for such a function, we enumerated all possible wiring designs of GRNs consisting of three genes and tested their ability to perform one particular morphogen interpretation function; stripe formation, as it represents a simplified form of the much studied French flag problem and is a commonly found gene expression pattern (Figure 1A). We found that only 5% of GRNs had the ability to generate a single stripe of gene expression when simulated with a fixed morphogen input in a one-dimensional model.
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Para saber mais sobre os gradientes morfogênicos:
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
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NOTA DESTE BLOGGER:
Repare a linguagem teleológica do abstract e do artigo. Quem disse que o design inteligente não faz parte da ciência???
