Cytomorph

Cytomorph models cytoneme-mediated morphogen gradient formation to simulate spatial and temporal dynamics of morphogen distribution.

Key Features:

• In Silico Modeling: Provides a computational framework based on the general features of cytoneme-mediated gradient formation to explore how biological parameters influence morphogen signaling.
• Experimental Data Integration: Integrates experimental data into simulations to enable model comparison and validation against empirical measurements.
• Hypothesis Testing: Enables in silico testing of biological hypotheses that are challenging to validate experimentally.
• Adaptability and Validation: Quantifies Hedgehog (Hh) gradient formation in two Drosophila tissues and explains variations in gradient scaling between different epithelia.
• Parameter Analysis: Analyzes the impact of cytoneme features—including length, size, density, dynamics, and contact behavior—on morphogen distribution.

Scientific Applications:

• Developmental biology: Simulates morphogen gradients to investigate mechanisms of tissue patterning and morphogen-mediated signaling.
• Hypothesis generation and testing: Generates and evaluates hypotheses about morphogen signaling mechanisms that are difficult to probe experimentally.
• Comparative gradient analysis: Quantifies and compares Hedgehog (Hh) gradient scaling across different Drosophila epithelia.

Methodology:

Simulates cytoneme-mediated transport and morphogen distribution within a computational framework and integrates experimental data to quantify Hedgehog (Hh) gradients in Drosophila tissues.