A multi-level biophysical approach to cell motility to unravel gastrulation and somitogenesis

Datum

14.03.2024

Zeit

15:00 - 16:00

Sprecher

Athanasius F. M. (Stan) Marée

Zugehörigkeit

School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK

Serie

TUD ZIH Kolloquium

Sprache

en

Hauptthema

Biologie

Andere Themen

Physik, Mathematik, Informatik

Host

Lutz Brusch

Beschreibung

The first segmented structures to appear in developing vertebrate embryos are the somites, defining the principal axis and segmentation of the animal's body plan. Somitogenesis follows a clock-like rhythm, and a range of molecular "gears" of this "clock" have been identified with expressions oscillating at that same frequency. In my talk I will argue that to unravel the mechanisms underlying this intricate morphogenetic process it is key to link our understanding of the gene regulatory processes and cell-cell signalling to the biophysics of deformation, adhesion, motility and directed migration of the cells involved. After convincing ourselves that the Cellular Potts Model is indeed a powerful framework to correctly capture such biophysical processes, I will focus on chick somitogenesis and, using the Cellular Potts Model as an integrative unit, show that the known biomolecular network and modifications in chemotaxis and adhesion can not only explain the formation of the principle axis during gastrulation, but also the segmentation into somites as a consequence of a self-organised transition from a temporal to a spatial pattern. Through this study we identify which aspects of the mechanism are robust and which are more sensitive for the specific molecular and biophysical circumstances. We will discuss how this can be related to evolutionary conserved mechanisms, and predict at which steps of the developmental process divergent solutions between species should be expected.

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Letztmalig verändert: 12.03.2024, 17:54:43