AgentCell: a digital single-cell assay for bacterial chemotaxis.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, single-cell biology has focused on the relationship between the stochastic nature of molecular interactions and variability of cellular behavior. To describe this relationship, it is necessary to develop new computational approaches at the single-cell level.


RESULTS
We have developed AgentCell, a model using agent-based technology to study the relationship between stochastic intracellular processes and behavior of individual cells. As a test-bed for our approach we use bacterial chemotaxis, one of the best characterized biological systems. In this model, each bacterium is an agent equipped with its own chemotaxis network, motors and flagella. Swimming cells are free to move in a 3D environment. Digital chemotaxis assays reproduce experimental data obtained from both single cells and bacterial populations.
Emonet
Thierry
T
The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics and the James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. emonet@uchicago.edu
Macal
Charles M
CM
North
Michael J
MJ
Wickersham
Charles E
CE
Cluzel
Philippe
P
D000465:Algorithms; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009038:Motion; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013269:Stochastic Processes
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins