Modelling Dictyostelium discoideum morphogenesis: the culmination

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
Athanasius F M Marée, Paulien Hogeweg

Abstract

The culmination of the morphogenesis of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum involves complex cell movements which transform a mound of cells into a globule of spores on a slender stalk. We show that cyclic AMP signalling and differential adhesion, combined with cell differentiation and slime production, are sufficient to produce the morphogenetic cell movements which lead to culmination. We have simulated the process of culmination using a hybrid cellular automata/partial differential equation model. With our model we have been able to reproduce the main features that occur during culmination, namely the straight downward elongation of the stalk, its anchoring to the substratum and the formation of the long thin stalk topped by the spore head. We conclude that the cyclic AMP signalling system is responsible for the elongation and anchoring of the stalk, but in a roundabout way: pressure waves that are induced by the chemotaxis towards cyclic AMP squeeze the stalk through the cell mass. This mechanism forces the stalk to elongate precisely in the direction opposite to that of the chemotactically moving cells. The process turns out to be 'guided' by inactive 'pathfinder' cells, which form the tip of the stalk. We sh...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 20, 2006·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·R ChaturvediM S Alber
Apr 6, 2007·BMC Systems Biology·Jonathan TangC Anthony Hunt
Jun 23, 2006·PLoS Computational Biology·Jos KäferAthanasius F M Marée
May 1, 2007·PLoS Computational Biology·Scott ChristleyStuart A Newman
Oct 15, 2011·PLoS Computational Biology·Susan D HesterJames A Glazier
Jul 11, 2008·Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering : MBE·Nikodem J PopławskiJames A Glazier
Dec 21, 2006·Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity·Jyoti K JaiswalVidyanand Nanjundiah
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Jul 19, 2017·BMC Systems Biology·Anna DolomanNicholas S Flann
Mar 31, 2019·Bulletin of Mathematical Biology·Henri B WolffRoeland M H Merks
Jul 22, 2020·Physical Review. E·Nara GuisoniLuis Diambra
Nov 20, 2020·Physical Biology·Nicola Mulberry, Leah Edelstein-Keshet

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