Geometric models for robust encoding of dynamical information into embryonic patterns

Abstract
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Abstract

During development, cells gradually assume specialized fates via changes of transcriptional dynamics, sometimes even within the same developmental stage. For anterior-posterior (AP) patterning in metazoans, it has been suggested that the gradual transition from a dynamic genetic regime to a static one is encoded by different transcriptional modules. In that case, the static regime has an essential role in pattern formation in addition to its maintenance function. In this work, we introduce a geometric approach to study such transition. We exhibit two types of genetic regime transitions, respectively arising through local or global bifurcations. We find that the global bifurcation type is more generic, more robust, and better preserves dynamical information. This could parsimoniously explain common features of metazoan segmentation, such as changes of periods leading to waves of gene expressions, 'speed/frequency-gradient' dynamics, and changes of wave patterns. Geometric approaches appear as possible alternatives to gene regulatory networks to understand development.

Data availability

https://github.com/laurentjutrasdube/Dual-Regime_Geometry_for_Embryonic_Patterning

The following data sets were generated

(2020) Geometric models for robust encoding of dynamical information into embryonic patterns
Github, laurentjutrasdube/Dual-Regime_Geometry_for_Embryonic_Patterning.

https://github.com/laurentjutrasdube/Dual-Regime_Geometry_for_Embryonic_Patterning

Article and author information

Author details

Laurent Jutras-Dubé

Physics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0003-4323-2840
Ezzat El-Sherif

Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

For correspondence
ezzat.el-sherif@fau.de

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0003-1738-8139
Paul François

Physics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

For correspondence
paul.francois2@mcgill.ca

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-2223-839X

Funding

Simons Foundation (MMLS)

Laurent Jutras-Dubé
Paul François

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (CREATE in Complex Dynamics)

Laurent Jutras-Dubé

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (EL 870/2-1)

Ezzat El-Sherif

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Copyright

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.