Conditions for self-consistent aggregation by chemotactic particles.
We have numerically studied chemotactic aggregation of microorganisms by introducing a model consisting of elements with intracellular dynamics, random walks with a state-dependent turnover rate, and secretion of attractant. Three phases with and without aggregation, as well as partial aggregation, were obtained as to the diffusion and degradation rates of the attractant, and conditions for cellular aggregation were analyzed. The size of aggregated clusters was shown to be independent of cell density, as is consistent with experiment.
Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Masayo
M
Inoue
Kunihiko
K
Kaneko
D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D004058:Diffusion; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological