Mechanism for Collective Cell Alignment in Myxococcus xanthus Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Myxococcus xanthus cells self-organize into aligned groups, clusters, at various stages of their lifecycle. Formation of these clusters is crucial for the complex dynamic multi-cellular behavior of these bacteria. However, the mechanism underlying the cell alignment and clustering is not fully understood. Motivated by studies of clustering in self-propelled rods, we hypothesized that M. xanthus cells can align and form clusters through pure mechanical interactions among cells and between cells and substrate. We test this hypothesis using an agent-based simulation framework in which each agent is based on the biophysical model of an individual M. xanthus cell. We show that model agents, under realistic cell flexibility values, can align and form cell clusters but only when periodic reversal

SUBMITTER: Balagam R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4550276 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature