2023/01/16 by K. S. Iyer, Chaitra Prabhakara, Satyajit Mayor +1 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation #Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer #Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
paper · doi:10.7554/elife.79257
openalex publication_date 2023/01/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/23
Precise spatial patterning of cell fate during morphogenesis requires accurate inference of cellular position. In making such inferences from morphogen profiles, cells must contend with inherent stochasticity in morphogen production, transport, sensing and signalling. Motivated by the multitude of signalling mechanisms in various developmental contexts, we show how cells may utilise multiple tiers of processing (compartmentalisation) and parallel branches (multiple receptor types), together with feedback control, to bring about fidelity in morphogenetic decoding of their positions within a developing tissue. By simultaneously deploying specific and nonspecific receptors, cells achieve a more accurate and robust inference. We explore these ideas in the patterning of Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal disc by Wingless morphogen signalling, where multiple endocytic pathways participate in decoding the morphogen gradient. The geometry of the inference landscape in the high dimensional space of parameters provides a measure for robustness and delineates stiff and sloppy directions. This distributed information processing at the scale of the cell highlights how local cell autonomous control facilitates global tissue scale design.