John Dallon: Paper Abstract
A Discrete Cell Model with
Adaptive Signaling for Aggregation of Dictyostelium
discoideum
AUTHORS:
John C. Dallon 1 & Hans G. Othmer 2
1: Mathematics Institute,
University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
2: Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
ABSTRACT:
Dictyostelium discoideum (Dd) is a widely studied
model system from which fundamental insights into cell movement,
chemotaxis, aggregation and pattern formation can be gained. In this
system, aggregation results from the chemotactic response by dispersed
amoeba to a traveling wave of the chemoattractant cAMP. We have
developed a model in which the cells are treated as discrete points in
a continuum field of the chemoattractant, and transduction of the
extracellular , cAMP signal into the intracellular signal is based on
the G protein model developed by Tang & Othmer (1994). The model
reproduces a number of experimental observations and gives further
insight into the aggregation process. We investigate different rules
for cell movement, the factors that influence stream formation, the
effect on aggregation of noise in the choice of the direction of
movement, and when spiral waves of chemoattractant and cell density
are likely to occur. Our results give new insight into the origin of
spiral waves and suggest that streaming is due to a finite amplitude
instability.
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