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A coupled bulk-surface model for cell polarisation
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 15:07 authored by Davide Cusseddu, L Edelstein-Keshet, J A Mackenzie, S Portet, Anotida MadzvamuseSeveral cellular activities, such as directed cell migration, are coordinated by an intricate network of biochemical reactions which lead to a polarised state of the cell, in which cellular symmetry is broken, causing the cell to have a well defined front and back. Recent work on balancing biological complexity with mathematical tractability resulted in the proposal and formulation of a famous minimal model for cell polarisation, known as the wave pinning model. In this study, we present a three-dimensional generalisation of this mathematical framework through the maturing theory of coupled bulk-surface semilinear partial differential equations in which protein compartmentalisation becomes natural. We show how a local perturbation over the surface can trigger propagating reactions, eventually stopped in a stable profile by the interplay with the bulk component. We describe the behaviour of the model through asymptotic and local perturbation analysis, in which the role of the geometry is investigated. The bulk-surface finite element method is used to generate numerical simulations over simple and complex geometries, which confirm our analysis, showing pattern formation due to propagation and pinning dynamics. The generality of our mathematical and computational framework allows to study more complex biochemical reactions and biomechanical properties associated with cell polarisation in multi-dimensions.
Funding
Unravelling new mathematics for 3D cell migration; G1438; LEVERHULME TRUST; RPG-2014-149
New predictive mathematical and computational models in experimental sciences; G1949; ROYAL SOCIETY; WM160017
InCeM: Research Training Network on Integrated Component Cycling in Epithelial Cell Motility; G1546; EUROPEAN UNION; 642866 - InCeM
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of Theoretical BiologyISSN
0022-5193Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
481Page range
119-135Department affiliated with
- Mathematics Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Mathematics Applied to Biology Research Group Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes