title: A simulation environment for directional sensing as a phase separation process.
abstract: The ability of eukaryotic cells to navigate along spatial gradients of extracellular guidance cues is crucial for embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and cancer progression. One proposed model for chemotaxis is a phosphoinositide-based phase separation process, which takes place at the plasma membrane upon chemoattractant stimulation and triggers directional motility of eukaryotic cells. Here, we make available virtual-cell software that allows the execution and spatiotemporal analysis of in silico chemotaxis experiments, in which the user can control physical and chemical parameters as well as the number and position of chemoattractant sources.
authors: Department of Physical Sciences, Università di Napoli Federico II, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica della Materia, and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Unità di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: de Candia
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Gamba
authors: Fausto
authors: F
authors: Cavalli
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Coniglio
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Di Talia
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Bussolino
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Serini
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003199:Computer Systems; D003600:Cytosol / Q000502:physiology; D003626:Data Display; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008838:Microcomputers; D008954:Models, Biological; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software; D013269:Stochastic Processes
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols