Propagating left/right asymmetry in the zebrafish embryo: one-dimensional model

During embryonic development in vertebrates, left-right (L/R) asymmetry is reliably generated by a conserved mechanism: a L/R asymmetric signal is transmitted from the embryonic node to other parts of the embryo by the L/R asymmetric expression and diffusion of the TGF-β related proteins Nodal and Lefty via propagating gene expression fronts in the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) and midline. In zebrafish embryos, Nodal and Lefty expression can only occur along 3 narrow stripes that express the co-receptor one-eyed pinhead (oep): Nodal along stripes in the left and right LPM, and Lefty along the midline. In wild-type embryos, Nodal is only expressed in the left LPM but not the right, because of inhibition by Lefty from the midline; however, bilateral Nodal expression occurs in loss-of-handedness mutants. A two-dimensional model of the zebrafish embryo predicts this loss of L/R asymmetry in oep mutants [15]. In this paper, we simplify this two-dimensional picture to a one-dimensional model of Nodal and Lefty front propagation along the oep-expressing stripes. We represent Nodal and Lefty production by step functions that turn on when a linear function of Nodal and Lefty densities crosses a threshold. We do a parameter exploration of front propagation behavior, and find the existence of pinned intervals, along which the linear function underlying production is pinned to the threshold. Finally, we find parameter regimes for which spatially uniform oscillating solutions are possible. Received for publication xx yy 2011 and in final form xx yy 2012. Address reprint requests and inquiries to Christopher L. Henley, E-mail: [email protected]