A bistable autoregulatory module in the developing embryo commits cells to binary expression fates.

ABSTRACT: Bistable autoactivation has been proposed as a mechanism for cells to adopt binary fates during embryonic development. However, it is unclear whether the autoactivating modules found within developmental gene regulatory networks are bistable, unless their parameters are quantitatively determined. Here, we combine in vivo live imaging with mathematical modeling to dissect the binary cell fate dynamics of the fruit fly pair-rule gene fushi tarazu (ftz), which is regulated by two known enhancers: the early (non-autoregulating) element and the autoregulatory element. Live imaging of transcription and protein concentration in the blastoderm revealed that binary Ftz fates are achieved as Ftz expression rapidly transitions from being dictated by the early element to the autoregulatory element. Mo

SUBMITTER: Zhao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10428078 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature