Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
    Dev Cell. 2008 Nov;15(5):725-37.

    A combinatorial code for pattern formation in Drosophila oogenesis.

    Source

    Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

    Abstract

    Two-dimensional patterning of the follicular epithelium in Drosophila oogenesis is required for the formation of three-dimensional eggshell structures. Our analysis of a large number of published gene expression patterns in the follicle cells suggests that they follow a simple combinatorial code based on six spatial building blocks and the operations of union, difference, intersection, and addition. The building blocks are related to the distribution of inductive signals, provided by the highly conserved epidermal growth factor receptor and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways. We demonstrate the validity of the code by testing it against a set of patterns obtained in a large-scale transcriptional profiling experiment. Using the proposed code, we distinguish 36 distinct patterns for 81 genes expressed in the follicular epithelium and characterize their joint dynamics over four stages of oogenesis. The proposed combinatorial framework allows systematic analysis of the diversity and dynamics of two-dimensional transcriptional patterns and guides future studies of gene regulation.

    PMID:
    19000837
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID: PMC2822874
    Free PMC Article

    Images from this publication.See all images (6) Free text

    Figure 4
    Figure 6
    Figure 3
    Figure 1
    Figure 2
    Figure 5

      Supplemental Content

      Click here to read Click here to read

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk