Orientation of Turing-like Patterns by Morphogen Gradients and Tissue Anisotropies.

ABSTRACT: Patterning of periodic stripes during development requires mechanisms to control both stripe spacing and orientation. A number of models can explain how stripe spacing is controlled, including molecular mechanisms, such as Turing's reaction-diffusion model, as well as cell-based and mechanical mechanisms. However, how stripe orientation is controlled in each of these cases is poorly understood. Here, we model stripe orientation using a simple, yet generic model of periodic patterning, with the aim of finding qualitative features of stripe orientation that are mechanism-independent. Our model predicts three qualitatively distinct classes of orientation mechanism: gradients in production rates, gradients in model parameters, and anisotropies (e.g. in diffusion or growth). We provide evidence

SUBMITTER: Hiscock TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4707970 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature