Work

Modeling protein dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos reveals that the PLK-1 gradient relies on weakly coupled reaction–diffusion mechanisms

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Significance Intracellular gradients have essential roles in cell and developmental biology, but their formation is not fully understood. We have developed a computational approach facilitating interpretation of protein dynamics and gradient formation. We have combined this computational approach with experiments to understand how Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK-1) forms a cytoplasmic gradient in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Although the PLK-1 gradient depends on the Muscle EXcess-5/6 (MEX-5/6) proteins, we reveal differences in PLK-1 and MEX-5 gradient formation that can be explained by a model with two components, PLK-1 bound to MEX-5 and unbound PLK-1. Our combined approach suggests that a weak coupling between PLK-1 and MEX-5 reaction–diffusion mechanisms dictates the dynamic exchange of PLK-1 with the cytoplasm, explaining PLK-1 high diffusivity and smooth gradient.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114205119

Authors: Sofia Barbieri, Aparna Nurni Ravi, Erik E. Griffin, Monica Gotta

Institutions: University of Geneva, Dartmouth College

Language: English

Topic: Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Université de Genève, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Mechanisms of Spatial Organization in the Cytoplasm, Mechanisms of Spatial Organization in the Cytoplasm, Polo like kinase 1 regulation and function in cell division and development, Integrated experimental and theoretical approaches to study the effect of ionizing radiation on asymmetric cell division