Differentiation of developing olfactory neurons analysed in terms of coupled epigenetic landscapes.

ABSTRACT: The olfactory system integrates signals from receptors expressed in olfactory sensory neurons. Each sensory neuron expresses only one of many similar olfactory receptors (ORs). The choice of receptor is made stochastically early in the differentiation process and is maintained throughout the life of the neuron. The underlying mechanism of this stochastic commitment to one of multiple similar OR genes remains elusive. We present a theoretical analysis of a mechanism that invokes important epigenetic properties of the system. The proposed model combines nucleosomes and associated read-write enzymes as mediators of a cis-acting positive feedback with a trans-acting negative feedback, thereby coupling the local epigenetic landscape of the individual OR genes in a way that allow one and only on

SUBMITTER: Alsing AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3643594 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature