Open AccessModelling molecular mechanisms controlling sequential gene expression in differentiating mammalian enterocytes
Author(s) -
Brown D.,
Smith M. W.,
Collins A. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2184.1999.3240171.x
Subject(s) - enterocyte , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , translation (biology) , intestinal epithelium , gene expression , epithelium , gene , messenger rna , genetics , small intestine , biochemistry
. The gut epithelium represents a continuous developmental system in which cell proliferation in intestinal crypts is followed by the sequential expression of digestive and absorptive functions as enterocytes migrate out of crypts to the tips of intestinal villi. We have developed a mathematical model in the present work to mimic these sequential aspects of enterocyte differentiation. Using this model allows the characteristics of lactase expression to be ascribed to transcriptional control. In the case of a glucose transporter, however, it became necessary to assume an additional translational control that decreased exponentially as enterocytes migrated along villi. The suggestion that this type of modelling is useful in predicting which set of enterocytes is likely to use translation or transcription to control gene expression is also discussed.