Schedule Aug 17, 2003
Which way to go? Chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells
Wouter-Jan Rappel (UC ~ San Diego)

Chemotaxis refers to the ability of cells to respond to spatial and temporal chemical gradients. It plays an important role in determining the direction of motion of cells in many biological processes including embryogenesis, wound healing and angiogenesis. We will focus on a model system, the amoeboid organism Dictyostelium discoideum, which has emerged as a useful model system for studying chemotactic responses. Using available biological data we have constructed a theoretical model for the initial phase of chemotaxis in Dictyostelium. We will discuss the results of our physics-minded model and will show that it can make specific predictions. We will also present ideas about future experiments that could help our understanding of chemotactic signaling networks.

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