Orientation of Turing-like Patterns by Morphogen Gradients and Tissue Anisotropies

Tom W. Hiscock*, Sean G. Megason

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Summary Patterning of periodic stripes during development requires mechanisms to control both stripe spacing and orientation. A number of models can explain how stripe spacing is controlled, including molecular mechanisms, such as Turing's reaction-diffusion model, as well as cell-based and mechanical mechanisms. However, how stripe orientation is controlled in each of these cases is poorly understood. Here, we model stripe orientation using a simple, yet generic model of periodic patterning, with the aim of finding qualitative features of stripe orientation that are mechanism independent. Our model predicts three qualitatively distinct classes of orientation mechanism: gradients in production rates, gradients in model parameters, and anisotropies (e.g., in diffusion or growth). We provide evidence that the results from our minimal model may also apply to more specific and complex models, revealing features of stripe orientation that may be common to a variety of biological systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)408-416
Number of pages9
JournalCell Systems
Volume1
Issue number6
Early online date2 Dec 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Dec 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements
This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01
DC010791 and R01 GM107733). T.W.H. is also supported by the Herchel
Smith Graduate Fellowship

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