Control Parameter Description of Eukaryotic Chemotaxis

Gabriel Amselem, Matthias Theves, Albert Bae, Carsten Beta, and Eberhard Bodenschatz
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 108103 – Published 5 September 2012
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Abstract

The chemotaxis of eukaryotic cells depends both on the average concentration of the chemoattractant and on the steepness of its gradient. For the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, we test quantitatively the prediction by Ueda and Shibata [Biophys. J. 93, 11 (2007)] that the efficacy of chemotaxis depends on a single control parameter only, namely, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), determined by the stochastic fluctuations of (i) the binding of the chemoattractant molecule to the transmembrane receptor and (ii) the intracellular activation of the effector of the signaling cascade. For SNR 1, the theory captures the experimental findings well, while for larger SNR noise sources further downstream in the signaling pathway need to be taken into account.

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  • Received 12 January 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.108103

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Gabriel Amselem1, Matthias Theves1,2, Albert Bae1,3, Carsten Beta1,2, and Eberhard Bodenschatz1,3,4

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, Göttingen D-37077, Germany
  • 2Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24/25, Potsdam 14476, Germany
  • 3Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
  • 4Sibley School for Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA

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Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 10 — 7 September 2012

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