Open AccessModeling protein dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos reveals that the PLK-1 gradient relies on weakly coupled reaction–diffusion mechanisms
Author(s) -
Sofia Barbieri,
Aparurni Ravi,
Erik E. Griffin,
Monica Gotta
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2114205119
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis elegans , cytoplasm , diffusion , dynamics (music) , coupling (piping) , caenorhabditis , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , genetics , gene , acoustics , thermodynamics , mechanical engineering , engineering
Significance Intracellular gradients have essential roles in cell and developmental biology, but their formation is not fully understood. We have developed a computational approach facilitating interpretation of protein dynamics and gradient formation. We have combined this computational approach with experiments to understand how Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK-1) forms a cytoplasmic gradient inCaenorhabditis elegans embryos. Although the PLK-1 gradient depends on the Muscle EXcess-5/6 (MEX-5/6) proteins, we reveal differences in PLK-1 and MEX-5 gradient formation that can be explained by a model with two components, PLK-1 bound to MEX-5 and unbound PLK-1. Our combined approach suggests that a weak coupling between PLK-1 and MEX-5 reaction–diffusion mechanisms dictates the dynamic exchange of PLK-1 with the cytoplasm, explaining PLK-1 high diffusivity and smooth gradient.