A dot-stripe Turing model of joint patterning in the tetrapod limb
Published version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Abstract
Iterative joints are a hallmark of the tetrapod limb, and their positioning is a key step during limb development. Whilst the molecular regulation of joint formation is well-studied, it remains unclear what controls the location, number and orientation (i.e. the pattern) of joints within each digit. Here we propose the dot-stripe mechanism for joint patterning, comprising two coupled Turing systems inspired by published gene expression patterns. Our model can explain normal joint morphology in wildtype limbs, hyperphalangy in cetacean flippers, mutant phenotypes with misoriented joints and suggests a reinterpretation of the polydactylous Ichthyosaur fins as a polygonal joint lattice. By formulating a generic dot-stripe model, describing joint patterns rather than molecular joint markers, we demonstrate that the insights from the model should apply regardless of the biological specifics of the underlying mechanism, thus providing a unifying framework to interrogate joint patterning in the tetrapod limb.
Description
Keywords
Journal Title
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1477-9129
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
Cancer Research UK (C9545/A29580_do not transfer)
European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) (ALTF 606-2018)