Mechanical and biochemical modeling of cortical oscillations in spreading cells.

ABSTRACT: Actomyosin-based cortical contractility is a common feature of eukaryotic cells and is involved in cell motility, cell division, and apoptosis. In nonmuscle cells, oscillations in contractility are induced by microtubule depolymerization during cell spreading. We developed an ordinary differential equation model to describe this behavior. The computational model includes 36 parameters. The values for all but two of the model parameters were taken from experimental measurements found in the literature. Using these values, we demonstrate that the model generates oscillatory behavior consistent with current experimental observations. The rhythmic behavior occurs because of the antagonistic effects of calcium-induced contractility and stretch-activated calcium channels. The model makes several

SUBMITTER: Kapustina M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2397354 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature