TY  - GEN
AV  - public
UR  - https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/27590/
N2  - Synchronization abounds in nature at different scale and biological context:
fireflies flash in sync, neurons fire together. Synchronization is the ability to coordinate
events to operate in unison. It requires objects to sense and communicate with each
other. This interaction is called coupling. How synchronization and coupling are achieved
in nature are subject of intense studies.
One remarkable case of synchronization has been observed during the formation
of the body axis in vertebrates. In vertebrates, the segmented vertebral column is
established during somitogenesis at the embryonic stages. Somites form rhythmically,
for example in mouse with a period of about 2 hours. This process is associated with the
oscillatory activity of genes involved in Notch, Wnt and Fgf signalling pathways along the
pre somitic mesoderm (PSM) tissue. Interestingly, in vitro randomization assays
including tissue dissociation and re-aggregation, PSM cells spontaneously re-synchronize
and self-organize into several miniature emergent PSM structures (ePSM). Thus, a
randomized ensemble of genetic oscillators with different frequencies and phases
establish synchrony and form ordered oscillating patterns. Although the requirement for
Notch signalling pathway for synchronization is known, the general rules of coupling
remain elusive.
To describe synchronization between coupled biological oscillators, Kuramoto in
1979 provided a model based on phase difference coupling. This model assumes that
synchronization is continuous and driven by the phase difference between weakly
coupled oscillators. This Kuramoto model is widely used to study synchronization
phenomena, including PSM oscillations . However, theoretical predictions regarding the
collective phase synchronization have not been tested experimentally yet. We developed
a novel experimental strategy to quantitatively challenge the Kuramoto model,
particularly in regard to its prediction of how the collective phase is determined. While
the Kuramoto model predicts that the collective phase is equal to phase average of input
oscillators, our results suggest that the collective phase is dictated by one phase of input
oscillators. Combined with other results, our experimental findings do not match
Kuramoto model predictions. I discuss future experimental strategies to test alternative
models for PSM synchronization.
A1  - Ho, Christine
CY  - Heidelberg
ID  - heidok27590
Y1  - 2020///
TI  - Collective synchronization of coupled self-orgnanizing mouse embryonic oscillators
ER  -