Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression

Abstract Biological networks are inherently modular, yet little is known about how modules are assembled to enable coordinated and complex functions. We used RNAi and time series, whole‐genome microarray analyses to systematically perturb and characterize components of a Caenorhabditis elegans linea...

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Main Authors: Itai Yanai, L Ryan Baugh, Jessica J Smith, Casey Roehrig, Shai S Shen‐Orr, Julia M Claggett, Andrew A Hill, Donna K Slonim, Craig P Hunter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2008-02-01
Series:Molecular Systems Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2008.6
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author Itai Yanai
L Ryan Baugh
Jessica J Smith
Casey Roehrig
Shai S Shen‐Orr
Julia M Claggett
Andrew A Hill
Donna K Slonim
Craig P Hunter
author_facet Itai Yanai
L Ryan Baugh
Jessica J Smith
Casey Roehrig
Shai S Shen‐Orr
Julia M Claggett
Andrew A Hill
Donna K Slonim
Craig P Hunter
author_sort Itai Yanai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Biological networks are inherently modular, yet little is known about how modules are assembled to enable coordinated and complex functions. We used RNAi and time series, whole‐genome microarray analyses to systematically perturb and characterize components of a Caenorhabditis elegans lineage‐specific transcriptional regulatory network. These data are supported by selected reporter gene analyses and comprehensive yeast one‐hybrid and promoter sequence analyses. Based on these results, we define and characterize two modules composed of muscle‐ and epidermal‐specifying transcription factors that function together within a single cell lineage to robustly specify multiple cell types. The expression of these two modules, although positively regulated by a common factor, is reliably segregated among daughter cells. Our analyses indicate that these modules repress each other, and we propose that this cross‐inhibition coupled with their relative time of induction function to enhance the initial asymmetry in their expression patterns, thus leading to the observed invariant gene expression patterns and cell lineage. The coupling of asynchronous and topologically distinct modules may be a general principle of module assembly that functions to potentiate genetic switches.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1744-4292
language English
publishDate 2008-02-01
publisher Springer Nature
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series Molecular Systems Biology
spelling doaj-art-61310b3d1d874b08b9efa5abfff7860d2025-08-24T12:01:20ZengSpringer NatureMolecular Systems Biology1744-42922008-02-014111210.1038/msb.2008.6Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expressionItai Yanai0L Ryan Baugh1Jessica J Smith2Casey Roehrig3Shai S Shen‐Orr4Julia M Claggett5Andrew A Hill6Donna K Slonim7Craig P Hunter8Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityBiological Technologies, Wyeth ResearchDepartment of Computer Science, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityAbstract Biological networks are inherently modular, yet little is known about how modules are assembled to enable coordinated and complex functions. We used RNAi and time series, whole‐genome microarray analyses to systematically perturb and characterize components of a Caenorhabditis elegans lineage‐specific transcriptional regulatory network. These data are supported by selected reporter gene analyses and comprehensive yeast one‐hybrid and promoter sequence analyses. Based on these results, we define and characterize two modules composed of muscle‐ and epidermal‐specifying transcription factors that function together within a single cell lineage to robustly specify multiple cell types. The expression of these two modules, although positively regulated by a common factor, is reliably segregated among daughter cells. Our analyses indicate that these modules repress each other, and we propose that this cross‐inhibition coupled with their relative time of induction function to enhance the initial asymmetry in their expression patterns, thus leading to the observed invariant gene expression patterns and cell lineage. The coupling of asynchronous and topologically distinct modules may be a general principle of module assembly that functions to potentiate genetic switches.https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2008.6C. elegansgene regulatory networkmoduletranscription factor
spellingShingle Itai Yanai
L Ryan Baugh
Jessica J Smith
Casey Roehrig
Shai S Shen‐Orr
Julia M Claggett
Andrew A Hill
Donna K Slonim
Craig P Hunter
Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
Molecular Systems Biology
C. elegans
gene regulatory network
module
transcription factor
title Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
title_full Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
title_fullStr Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
title_full_unstemmed Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
title_short Pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
title_sort pairing of competitive and topologically distinct regulatory modules enhances patterned gene expression
topic C. elegans
gene regulatory network
module
transcription factor
url https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2008.6
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