A model of replicating coupled oscillators generates naturally occurring cell networks

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Developmental biology
• Mathematical modeling

Background:

• Incomplete cytokinesis in dividing cells leads to intercellular bridges, forming networks essential for gamete production in many animals.
• Diverse network topologies have evolved across species, but a quantitative framework for understanding their assembly and variation is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mathematical model for generating cell networks, explaining their assembly and inter-species variability.
• To provide a quantitative framework for understanding the mechanisms behind diverse network topologies in gamete production.

Main Methods:

• A mathematical model was devised where nodes represent oscillators undergoing cell cycles and producing connected daughters.
• Cell cycle oscillations are transient and coupled via diffusion across network edges.
• Model parameters were varied to simulate network formation.

Main Results:

• The model successfully generates nearly all reported cell networks across invertebrates by varying three biologically motivated parameters.
• Small variations in model parameters can explain observed intra-species variations in network topology.
• The model provides a framework for understanding conserved and variable aspects of network assembly.

Conclusions:

• The developed mathematical model offers a quantitative explanation for cell network assembly and diversity in invertebrate gamete production.
• The model's flexibility in parameter variation accounts for both conserved and variable network topologies across species.
• Future work will generalize the model to include stochasticity for networks formed outside the ovary.