Aggregation of cell surface receptors by multivalent ligands.
Using a combination of branching processes and kinetic equations a solution is provided to the problem of describing the size of aggregates formed on cell surfaces when multivalent ligands bind and cross-link multivalent receptors. A criterion is given for the onset of gelation in infinite 2-dimensional systems, which may be relevant to the phenomenon of ligand-induced receptor patching.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000502:physiology*
D008024:Ligands; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011955:Receptors, Drug