title: A comparison of mathematical models for polarization of single eukaryotic cells in response to guided cues.
abstract: Polarization, a primary step in the response of an individual eukaryotic cell to a spatial stimulus, has attracted numerous theoretical treatments complementing experimental studies in a variety of cell types. While the phenomenon itself is universal, details differ across cell types, and across classes of models that have been proposed. Most models address how symmetry breaking leads to polarization, some in abstract settings, others based on specific biochemistry. Here, we compare polarization in response to a stimulus (e.g., a chemoattractant) in cells typically used in experiments (yeast, amoebae, leukocytes, keratocytes, fibroblasts, and neurons), and, in parallel, responses of several prototypical models to typical stimulation protocols. We find that the diversity of cell behaviors is reflected by a diversity of models, and that some, but not all models, can account for amplification of stimulus, maintenance of polarity, adaptation, sensitivity to new signals, and robustness.
authors.affiliation: Green Comprehensive Center for Computational and Systems Biology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America. Alexandra.Jilkine@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jilkine
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edelstein-Keshet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D049490:Systems Biology