Collier1996 - Delta Notch intercellular signalling and lateral inhibition

ODE model describing how slight variations in Notch and Delta cellular concentrations, through lateral inhibition, lead to cells with different states of differentiation. Lateral inhibition is a process whereby a given cell adopting a given fate prevents its immediate neighbouring cells from doing likewise. Notch and Delta are interacting transmembrane proteins and according to this model, lateral inhibition is due to a process where the inhibited cells (where notch has been activated by Delta) loose their ability to inhibit other cells (by synthesizing Delta). This process creates a feedback loop where cells with more delta proteins on their surface inhibit their immediate neighbours and adopt a different cell fate than those neighbours.