Pattern formation and traveling waves in myxobacteria: Theory and modeling

Oleg A. Igoshin, Alex Mogilner, Roy D. Welch, Dale Kaiser, George Oster

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

112 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent experiments have provided new quantitative measurements of the rippling phenomenon in fields of developing myxobacteria cells. These measurements have enabled us to develop a mathematical model for the ripple phenomenon on the basis of the biochemistry of the C-signaling system, whereby individuals signal by direct cell contact. The model quantitatively reproduces all of the experimental observations and illustrates how intracellular dynamics, contact-mediated intercellular communication, and cell motility can coordinate to produce collective behavior. This pattern of waves is qualitatively different from that observed in other social organisms, especially Dictyostelium discoideum, which depend on diffusible morphogens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14913-14918
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume98
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 18 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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