'Dicty dynamics': Dictyostelium motility as persistent random motion.

ABSTRACT: We model the motility of Dictyostelium cells in a systematic data-driven manner. We deduce a minimal dynamical model that reproduces the statistical features of experimental trajectories. These are trajectories of the centroid of the cell perimeter, which is more sensitive to pseudopod activity than the usual tracking by centroid or nucleus. Our data account for cell individuality and dictate a model that extends the cell-type specific models recently derived for mammalian cells. Two generalized Langevin equations model stochastic periodic pseudopod motion parallel and orthogonal to the amoeba's direction of motion. This motion propels the amoeba with a random periodic left-right waddle in a direction that has a long persistence time. The model fully accounts for the statistics of the expe

SUBMITTER: Li L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3148805 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature