Dynamic patterning by the Drosophila pair-rule network reconciles long-germ and short-germ segmentation.

ABSTRACT: Drosophila segmentation is a well-established paradigm for developmental pattern formation. However, the later stages of segment patterning, regulated by the "pair-rule" genes, are still not well understood at the system level. Building on established genetic interactions, I construct a logical model of the Drosophila pair-rule system that takes into account the demonstrated stage-specific architecture of the pair-rule gene network. Simulation of this model can accurately recapitulate the observed spatiotemporal expression of the pair-rule genes, but only when the system is provided with dynamic "gap" inputs. This result suggests that dynamic shifts of pair-rule stripes are essential for segment patterning in the trunk and provides a functional role for observed posterior-to-anterior gap d

SUBMITTER: Clark E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5633203 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature