Quantitative variation in autocrine signaling and pathway crosstalk in the Caenorhabditis vulval network.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Biological networks experience quantitative change in response to environmental and evolutionary variation. Computational modeling allows exploration of network parameter space corresponding to such variations. The intercellular signaling network underlying Caenorhabditis vulval development specifies three fates in a row of six precursor cells, yielding a quasi-invariant 3°3°2°1°2°3° cell fate pattern. Two seemingly conflicting verbal models of vulval precursor cell fate specification have been proposed: sequential induction by the EGF-MAP kinase and Notch pathways, or morphogen-based induction by the former.

Results

To study the mechanistic and evolutionary system properties of this network, we combine experimental studies with computational modeling, using a mod

SUBMITTER: Hoyos E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3084603 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature