Modularity, criticality, and evolvability of a developmental gene regulatory network.
Elife
; 82019 06 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31169494
ABSTRACT
The existence of discrete phenotypic traits suggests that the complex regulatory processes which produce them are functionally modular. These processes are usually represented by networks. Only modular networks can be partitioned into intelligible subcircuits able to evolve relatively independently. Traditionally, functional modularity is approximated by detection of modularity in network structure. However, the correlation between structure and function is loose. Many regulatory networks exhibit modular behaviour without structural modularity. Here we partition an experimentally tractable regulatory network-the gap gene system of dipteran insects-using an alternative approach. We show that this system, although not structurally modular, is composed of dynamical modules driving different aspects of whole-network behaviour. All these subcircuits share the same regulatory structure, but differ in components and sensitivity to regulatory interactions. Some subcircuits are in a state of criticality, while others are not, which explains the observed differential evolvability of the various expression features in the system.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento
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Genes Controladores do Desenvolvimento
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Redes Reguladoras de Genes
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Insetos
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Elife
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha