The effect of the signalling scheme on the robustness of pattern formation in development

Kang, H.-W.; Zheng, L.; Othmer, H. G.

The effect of the signalling scheme on the robustness of pattern formation in development

Type

Article

Authors

Kang, H.-W.
Zheng, L.
Othmer, H. G.

KAUST Grant Number

KUK-C1-013-04

Online Publication Date

2012-03-21

Print Publication Date

2012-08-06

Date

2012-03-21

Abstract

Pattern formation in development is a complex process which involves spatially distributed signals called morphogens that influence gene expression and thus the phenotypic identity of cells. Usually different cell types are spatially segregated, and the boundary between them may be determined by a threshold value of some state variable. The question arises as to how sensitive the location of such a boundary is to variations in properties, such as parameter values, that characterize the system. Here, we analyse both deterministic and stochastic reaction-diffusion models of pattern formation with a view towards understanding how the signalling scheme used for patterning affects the variability of boundary determination between cell types in a developing tissue.

Citation

Kang H-W, Zheng L, Othmer HG (2012) The effect of the signalling scheme on the robustness of pattern formation in development. Interface Focus 2: 465–486. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2011.0116.

Acknowledgements

This publication was based on work supported in part by NIH grant no. GM29123 and in part by award no. KUK-C1-013-04, made by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and by the Mathematical Biosciences Institute.