A self-avoidance mechanism in patterning of the urinary collecting duct tree.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glandular organs require the development of a correctly patterned epithelial tree. These arise by iterative branching: early branches have a stereotyped anatomy, while subsequent branching is more flexible, branches spacing out to avoid entanglement. Previous studies have suggested different genetic programs are responsible for these two classes of branches.

Results

Here, working with the urinary collecting duct tree of mouse kidneys, we show that the transition from the initial, stereotyped, wide branching to narrower later branching is independent from previous branching events but depends instead on the proximity of other branch tips. A simple computer model suggests that a repelling molecule secreted by branches can in principle generate a well-spaced tree tha

SUBMITTER: Davies JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4448276 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature