A multiscale model via single-cell transcriptomics reveals robust patterning mechanisms during early mammalian embryo development
Fig 1
A multiscale model for early embryo development from fertilization to late blastocyst stage.
(a) Embryo shapes in different stages. The circle color indicates the cell type: Grey for unspecified cell; Green for Trophectoderm (TE) cell; Red for inner Cell Mass: double positive of Nanog and Gata6 (DP); Yellow for Nanog high and Gata6 low (Nanog+); Blue for Gata6 high and Nanog low (Gata6+). (b) Gene regulation models for ICM specification before early blastocyst stage. The grey color represents weak cell contact or weak gene expression. (c) Gene regulation models for Nanog+/Gata6+ specification during early to late blastocyst stage. (d) Modeled selective adhesion between different cell types through early to late blastocyst stage. (e) A schematic illustration of the multiscale model incorporating spatial and gene expression dynamics of the cells. The correspondence to equations are as follows: GRNs, Eqs (1)–(5); intercellular forces, Eq (7); intercellular gene regulation, Eqs (5) and (6); external forces, S1 Text Eqs (3) and (4). (f) Simulated embryo with Nanog/Gata6 and Fgf4/Fgfr2 expression at different stages.