Discrete Modeling of Amoeboid Locomotion and Chemotaxis in Dictyostelium discoideum by Tracking Pseudopodium Growth Direction.

ABSTRACT: Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba is a well-established model organism for studying the crawling locomotion of eukaryotic cells. These amoebae extend pseudopodium - a temporary actin-based protrusion of their body membrane to probe the medium and crawl through it. Experiments show highly-ordered patterns in the growth direction of these pseudopodia, which results in persistence cell motility. Here, we propose a discrete model for studying and investigating the cell locomotion based on the experimental evidences. According to our model, Dictyostelium selects its pseudopodium growth direction based on a second-order Markov chain process, in the absence of external cues. Consequently, compared to a random walk process, our model indicates stronger growth in the mean-square displacement of cells

SUBMITTER: Eidi Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5627298 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature