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Statistical Dynamics of Spatial-Order Formation by Communicating Cells.

ABSTRACT: Communicating cells can coordinate their gene expressions to form spatial patterns, generating order from disorder. Ubiquitous "secrete-and-sense cells" secrete and sense the same molecule to do so. Here we present a modeling framework-based on cellular automata and mimicking approaches of statistical mechanics-for understanding how secrete-and-sense cells with bistable gene expression, from disordered beginnings, can become spatially ordered by communicating through rapidly diffusing molecules. Classifying lattices of cells by two "macrostate" variables-"spatial index," measuring degree of order, and average gene-expression level-reveals a conceptual picture: a group of cells behaves as a single particle, in an abstract space, that rolls down on an adhesive "pseudo-energy landscape" whose shape is determined by cell-cell communication and an intracellular gene-regulatory circuit. Particles rolling down the landscape represent cells becoming more spatially ordered. We show how to extend this framework to more complex forms of cellular communication.

SUBMITTER: Olimpio EP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6135931 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Statistical Dynamics of Spatial-Order Formation by Communicating Cells.

Olimpio Eduardo P EP Dang Yiteng Y Youk Hyun H

iScience 20180406

Communicating cells can coordinate their gene expressions to form spatial patterns, generating order from disorder. Ubiquitous "secrete-and-sense cells" secrete and sense the same molecule to do so. Here we present a modeling framework-based on cellular automata and mimicking approaches of statistical mechanics-for understanding how secrete-and-sense cells with bistable gene expression, from disordered beginnings, can become spatially ordered by communicating through rapidly diffusing molecules. ...[more]

PMID: 30428376

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Statistical Dynamics of Spatial-Order Formation by Communicating Cells.

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Statistical Dynamics of Spatial-Order Formation by Communicating Cells.

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