AUTHORS:
J. C. Dallon 1 Elijah Newren2, and Marc D.H. Hansen 3
1: Department of Mathematics, Brigham Young University,
Provo, UT 84602-6539
2: Sandia National Laboratories, Department 1541, Albuquerque, NM
3: Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University,
Provo, UT 84602-6539
ABSTRACT:
The actin cytoskeleton plays a role in cell-cell adhesion but its
specific function is not clear. Actin might anchor cadherins or
drive membrane protursions in order to facilitate cell-cell
adhesion. Using a mathematical model of the forces involved in
cadherin-based adhesion we investigate its possible functions. The
immersed boundary method is used to model the cell membrane and
cortex with cadherin binding forces added as linear springs. The
simulations indicate that cells in suspension can develop normal
cell-cell contacts without actin-based cadherin anchoring or
membrane protrusions. The cadherins can be fixed in the membrane or
free to move and the end results are similar. For adherent cells,
the actin cytoskeleton must play an active role for the cells to
establish cell-cell contact regions similar to those observed
in vitro.
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