Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism.
During cell differentiation, identical pluripotent cells undergo a specification process marked by changes in the expression of key genes, regulated by transcription factors that can inhibit the transcription of a competing gene or activate their own transcription. This specification is orchestrated...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316666 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849327786746970112 |
|---|---|
| author | Corentin Robert Francisco Prista von Bonhorst Geneviève Dupont Didier Gonze Yannick De Decker |
| author_facet | Corentin Robert Francisco Prista von Bonhorst Geneviève Dupont Didier Gonze Yannick De Decker |
| author_sort | Corentin Robert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During cell differentiation, identical pluripotent cells undergo a specification process marked by changes in the expression of key genes, regulated by transcription factors that can inhibit the transcription of a competing gene or activate their own transcription. This specification is orchestrated by gene regulatory networks (GRNs), encompassing transcription factors, biochemical reactions, and signalling cascades. Mathematical models for these GRNs have been proposed in various contexts, to replicate observed robustness in differentiation properties. This includes reproducible proportions of differentiated cells with respect to parametric or stochastic noise and the avoidance of transitions between differentiated states. Understanding the GRN components controlling these features is crucial. Our study thoroughly explored an extended version of the Toggle Switch model with auto-activation loops. This model represents cells evolving from common progenitors in one out of two fates (A or B, bistable regime) or, additionally, remaining in their progenitor state (C, tristable regime). Such a differentiation into populations with three distinct cell fates is observed during blastocyst formation in mammals, where inner cell mass cells can remain in that state or differentiate into epiblast cells or primitive endoderm. Systematic analysis revealed that the existence of a stable non-differentiated state significantly impacts the GRN's robustness against parametric variations and stochastic noise. This state reduces the sensitivity of cell populations to parameters controlling key gene expression asymmetry and prevents cells from making transitions after acquiring a new identity. Stochastic noise enhances robustness by decreasing sensitivity to initial expression levels and helping the system escape from the non-differentiated state to differentiated cell fates, making the differentiation more efficient. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e12964b33cd4431ca7aaa53e14967d31 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-e12964b33cd4431ca7aaa53e14967d312025-08-20T03:47:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01203e031666610.1371/journal.pone.0316666Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism.Corentin RobertFrancisco Prista von BonhorstGeneviève DupontDidier GonzeYannick De DeckerDuring cell differentiation, identical pluripotent cells undergo a specification process marked by changes in the expression of key genes, regulated by transcription factors that can inhibit the transcription of a competing gene or activate their own transcription. This specification is orchestrated by gene regulatory networks (GRNs), encompassing transcription factors, biochemical reactions, and signalling cascades. Mathematical models for these GRNs have been proposed in various contexts, to replicate observed robustness in differentiation properties. This includes reproducible proportions of differentiated cells with respect to parametric or stochastic noise and the avoidance of transitions between differentiated states. Understanding the GRN components controlling these features is crucial. Our study thoroughly explored an extended version of the Toggle Switch model with auto-activation loops. This model represents cells evolving from common progenitors in one out of two fates (A or B, bistable regime) or, additionally, remaining in their progenitor state (C, tristable regime). Such a differentiation into populations with three distinct cell fates is observed during blastocyst formation in mammals, where inner cell mass cells can remain in that state or differentiate into epiblast cells or primitive endoderm. Systematic analysis revealed that the existence of a stable non-differentiated state significantly impacts the GRN's robustness against parametric variations and stochastic noise. This state reduces the sensitivity of cell populations to parameters controlling key gene expression asymmetry and prevents cells from making transitions after acquiring a new identity. Stochastic noise enhances robustness by decreasing sensitivity to initial expression levels and helping the system escape from the non-differentiated state to differentiated cell fates, making the differentiation more efficient.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316666 |
| spellingShingle | Corentin Robert Francisco Prista von Bonhorst Geneviève Dupont Didier Gonze Yannick De Decker Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism. PLoS ONE |
| title | Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism. |
| title_full | Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism. |
| title_fullStr | Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism. |
| title_short | Role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism. |
| title_sort | role of tristability in the robustness of the differentiation mechanism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316666 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT corentinrobert roleoftristabilityintherobustnessofthedifferentiationmechanism AT franciscopristavonbonhorst roleoftristabilityintherobustnessofthedifferentiationmechanism AT genevievedupont roleoftristabilityintherobustnessofthedifferentiationmechanism AT didiergonze roleoftristabilityintherobustnessofthedifferentiationmechanism AT yannickdedecker roleoftristabilityintherobustnessofthedifferentiationmechanism |