Receptor binding and tortuosity explain morphogen local-to-global diffusion coefficient transition.

ABSTRACT: Morphogens are intercellular signaling molecules providing spatial information to cells in developing tissues to coordinate cell fate decisions. The spatial information is encoded within long-ranged concentration gradients of the morphogen. Direct measurement of morphogen dynamics in a range of systems suggests that local and global diffusion coefficients can differ by orders of magnitude. Further, local diffusivity can be large, which would potentially abolish any concentration gradient rapidly. Such observations have led to alternative transport models being proposed, including transcytosis and cytonemes. Here, we show that accounting for tissue architecture combined with receptor binding is sufficient to hinder the diffusive dynamics of morphogens, leading to an order of magnitude decre

SUBMITTER: Zhu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11947475 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature