Signaling between cells attached to a surface

We present a kinetic model allowing one to classify likely scenarios of protein-mediated communication between attached cells of two distinct types. In our treatment, messenger proteins, synthesized in type-1 cells, are considered to penetrate the external membrane of these cells, diffuse in the extracellular medium, associate with the receptors in the external membrane of cells of both types, and induce intracellular signal transduction cascades, influencing the development of cells. Protein degradation inside and outside cells is taken into account as well.

Figure 1

(Color online) Schematic arrangement of cells on the surface. Small solid circles show messenger proteins. $L$ is the thickness of the solution.