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arXiv · 0711.3090

Spatial signal amplification in cell biology: a lattice-gas model for self-tuned phase ordering

Teresa Ferraro·Antonio de Candia·Andrea Gamba·Antonio Coniglio
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Abstract

Experiments show that the movement of eukaryotic cells is regulated by a process of phase separation of two competing enzymes on the cell membrane, that effectively amplifies shallow external gradients of chemical attractant. Notably, the cell is able to self-tune the final enzyme concentrations to an equilibrium state of phase coexistence, for a wide range of the average attractant concentration. We propose a simple lattice model in which, together with a short-range attraction between enzymes, a long-range repulsion naturally arises from physical considerations, that easily explains such observed behavior.

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Teresa Ferraro, Antonio de Candia, Andrea Gamba, Antonio Coniglio. 2007-11-20. Spatial signal amplification in cell biology: a lattice-gas model for self-tuned phase ordering. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/83/50009

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