The role of feedback in the formation of morphogen territories.
2008
In this paper, we consider a mathematical model for the forma-
tion 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 cross-
inhibition (modeled by Hill equations) to establish and maintain stable bound-
aries of gene expression. By computational analysis we find that in the presence
of a general activator, neither autoactivation, nor cross-inhibition alone are suf-
ficient 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.
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