Gene regulatory network properties linked to gene expression dynamics in spatially extended systems

Abstract

Gene expression levels within a cell are determined by the network of regulatory interactions among genes. In spatially extended systems of multiple cells, gene expression levels are also affected by activity in neighbouring cells. This interplay of a genetic regulatory network and interactions among neighbouring cells may qualitatively alter the dynamics of gene expression and is at the core of biological pattern formation. In this study, we investigate the effects of the topology of a regulatory network on its pattern formation potential. We score networks by comparing the heterogeneity of gene expression levels generated on a lattice to that of the levels generated in a well stirred reactor as a null model, and assess the correlation of this score to characteristics of topology, such as density or centrality measures. Density is strongly correlated to the potential to generate gene expression heterogeneity. For some networks that produce high heterogeneity on lattices, centrality and membership in cycles are indicative of the impact which deleting a gene has on the level of heterogeneity produced. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.