Multi-scale computational modelling of the spatio-temporal expression of cadherin in embryonic brain morphogenesis

 

E-cadherin and N-cadherin are cell-cell adhesion molecules that play particularly important roles during embryonic brain morphogenesis, where rapid cell replication and active cell position rearrangement are crucial. During embryonic brain development, the formation of very particular localised structures of E-cadherin and N-cadherin expressing cells is observed in the neural tube and the mesencephalon. These structures not only have a characteristic geometry very different to what would be expected from a random spatial pattern, but also, some of them are transient in time. The question therefore arises as to what precise underlying biological mechanisms give rise to these structures. In this paper we use a multi-scale individual-based mathematical model which takes into account the biophysical properties of the cell as well as intra-cellular signal transduction pathways involving cadherins and β -catenin, to show how the formation of the different biological structures observed during embryonic brain development can be explained by a simple mechanism of cell-to-cell-induced change in adhesive properties.