Noise-resistant and synchronized oscillation of the segmentation clock

Kazuki Horikawa (), Kana Ishimatsu, Eiichi Yoshimoto, Shigeru Kondo and Hiroyuki Takeda ()
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Kazuki Horikawa: Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo
Kana Ishimatsu: Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo
Eiichi Yoshimoto: Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho
Shigeru Kondo: Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho
Hiroyuki Takeda: Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo

Nature, 2006, vol. 441, issue 7094, 719-723

Abstract: Abstract Periodic somite segmentation in vertebrate embryos is controlled by the ‘segmentation clock’, which consists of numerous cellular oscillators. Although the properties of a single oscillator, driven by a hairy negative-feedback loop, have been investigated, the system-level properties of the segmentation clock remain largely unknown. To explore these characteristics, we have examined the response of a normally oscillating clock in zebrafish to experimental stimuli using in vivo mosaic experiments and mathematical simulation. We demonstrate that the segmentation clock behaves as a coupled oscillator, by showing that Notch-dependent intercellular communication, the activity of which is regulated by the internal hairy oscillator, couples neighbouring cells to facilitate synchronized oscillation. Furthermore, the oscillation phase of individual oscillators fluctuates due to developmental noise such as stochastic gene expression and active cell proliferation. The intercellular coupling was found to have a crucial role in minimizing the effects of this noise to maintain coherent oscillation.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04861

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