Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2009 Dec;19(6):535-40. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2009.10.007. Epub 2009 Nov 11.
As gene regulatory network models encompass more and more of the specification processes underlying sea urchin embryonic development, topological themes emerge that imply the existence of structural network 'building blocks'. These are subcircuits which perform given logic operations in the spatial control of gene expression. The various parts of the sea urchin gene regulatory networks offer instances of the same subcircuit topologies accomplishing the same developmental logic functions but using different genes. These subcircuits are dedicated to specific developmental functions, unlike simpler 'motifs', and may indicate a repertoire of specific devices of which developmental gene regulatory networks are composed.
随着基因调控网络模型涵盖了越来越多的海胆胚胎发育的具体规范过程，拓扑主题开始显现，暗示着存在结构性网络“构建模块”。这些是在基因表达的空间控制中执行给定逻辑操作的子电路。海胆基因调控网络的各个部分提供了相同的子电路拓扑实例，这些实例完成了相同的发育逻辑功能，但使用了不同的基因。这些子电路专门用于特定的发育功能，不像更简单的“基序”，并且可能表明发育基因调控网络由特定的特定设备组成。
