Abstract
Cell-fate decisions are driven by complex regulatory networks. Despite their complexity, these networks often exhibit low-dimensional dynamics and allow only a limited number of phenotypes. What design principles in network topology allow for these salient features remains unclear. Previously, we demonstrated that networks driving epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were comprised of two well-coordinated teams of nodes engaged in mutual antagonism; one team drove an epithelial phenotype, while the one reinforced a mesenchymal one, thus canalizing cell-fate decisions. However, it remains elusive whether teams can drive the low-dimensional dynamics of such networks. Here, we investigate networks across diverse biological scenarios (EMT, small cell lung cancer, pluripotency, gonadal cell fate) and show that they all comprise two teams of nodes that can be identified without simulations and drive two mutually exclusive phenotypes. Moreover, a stronger team strength is associated with low dimensionality in the emergent phenotypic space. Our analysis elucidates how the presence of teams may be a fundamental design principle in networks driving cellular decision-making.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
