title: Positive genetic feedback governs cAMP spiral wave formation in Dictyostelium.
abstract: The aggregation stage of the life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum is governed by the chemotactic response of individual amoebae to excitable waves of cAMP. We modeled this process through a recently introduced hybrid automata-continuum scheme and used computer simulation to unravel the role of specific components of this complex developmental process. Our results indicated an essential role for positive feedback between the cAMP signaling and the expression of the genes encoding the signal transduction and response machinery.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Nonlinear Science and Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0402, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aranson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tsimring
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Truong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP