PUBLICATION

A quantitative modelling approach to zebrafish pigment pattern formation

Authors
Owen, J.P., Kelsh, R.N., Yates, C.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200728-34
Date
2020
Source
eLIFE   9: (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kelsh, Robert
Keywords
Danio rerio, Zebrafish, computational biology, danio, developmental biology, systems biology, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning/physiology*
  • Chromatophores/physiology*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Pigmentation*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/physiology
PubMed
32716296 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Pattern formation is a key aspect of development. Adult zebrafish exhibit a striking striped pattern generated through the self-organisation of three different chromatophores. Numerous investigations have revealed a multitude of individual cell-cell interactions important for this self-organisation, but it has remained unclear whether these known biological rules were sufficient to explain pattern formation. To test this, we present an individual-based mathematical model incorporating all the important cell-types and known interactions. The model qualitatively and quantitatively reproduces wild type and mutant pigment pattern development. We use it to resolve a number of outstanding biological uncertainties, including the roles of domain growth and the initial iridophore stripe, and to generate hypotheses about the functions of leopard. We conclude that our rule-set is sufficient to recapitulate wild-type and mutant patterns. Our work now leads the way for further in silico exploration of the developmental and evolutionary implications of this pigment patterning system.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping