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Developmental biology

Modular feedback

Nature volume 417, pages 35–36 (2002)Cite this article

To understand cell signalling during development, we need to know how whole signalling networks — not just their individual components — are regulated. Two new studies highlight this point.

In simplistic terms, living organisms can be broken down into modules — distinct ensembles of interacting elements that are used in a combinatorial fashion. Modules occur at all levels of biological organization and can encompass physical clusters (such as ribosomes and other multimolecule cellular machines) as well as processes (such as cell-to-cell signalling pathways). One kind of module is the 'synexpression group', a genetic network with an important role in animal development. Member genes of a synexpression group not only function in a common pathway, but are also expressed in the same tight temporal and spatial pattern.

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Figure 1: The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) synexpression group.
Figure 2: Negative feedback as an essential tool for generating appropriate behaviour of signalling systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Molecular Embryology, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany

    Christof Niehrs

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 37–39/IV, Tübingen, D-72076, Germany

    Hans Meinhardt

Authors
  1. Christof Niehrs
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  2. Hans Meinhardt
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Niehrs, C., Meinhardt, H. Modular feedback. Nature 417, 35–36 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/417035a

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