The mechanism of the molecular clock that controls developmental dynamics

本研究旨在了解脊椎动物发育过程中纹体形成的动力学机制，并利用时间周期性揭示纹体形成的原理。在体体形成过程中，几个基因的表达在体前中胚层中振荡，从而控制了体体的循环分裂。在这里，我们证明了振荡基因表达和小体分割的周期被Notch信号的强度微调。此外，我们还发现Notch信号的调节分子对于振荡基因表达的稳健性至关重要。

The aim of this study is to understand the mechanism of dynamics in somite formation in vertebrate development and uncover the principle of pattern formation by using temporal periodicity. During somite formation, the expression of several genes oscillate in the presomitic mesoderm, thereby controlling the cyclic somite segmentation. Here, we demonstrate that the period of the oscillatory gene expression and somite segmentation is fine-tuned by the strength of Notch signaling. Moreover, we show a modulator molecule of Notch signaling is essential for the robustness of the oscillatory gene expression.