Lateral Induction by Juxtacrine Signaling Is a New Mechanism for Pattern Formation

Authors: Owen M.R.¹; Sherratt J.A.²; Wearing H.J.²

Source: Developmental Biology, Volume 217, Number 1, January 2000 , pp. 54-61(8)

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Abstract:

Many signaling molecules in epithelia are now known to function in a membrane-bound form, binding to receptors on immediately neighbouring cells. This “juxtacrine” mode of communication has been well studied in the case of lateral inhibition, where ligand binding at the cell surface downregulates ligand and receptor expression, and is known to generate spatial patterns with a wavelength of exactly two cells. However, recent evidence shows that a number of juxtacrine signals can lead to the opposite phenomenon of lateral induction. Here, we use mathematical modeling to show that such positive feedback, in combination with juxtacrine communication, provides a novel mechanism for the generation of spatial patterns, with wavelengths that vary with parameters and can be many cell lengths. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Keywords: development; juxtacrine; lateral induction; pattern formation

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom 2: Department of Mathematics, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom

Publication date: 2000-01-01