A mechanism for cell motility by active polar gels.
We analyse a generic motility model, with the motility mechanism arising by contractile stress due to the interaction of myosin and actin. A hydrodynamic active polar gel theory is used to model the cytoplasm of a cell and is combined with a Helfrich-type model to account for membrane properties. The overall model allows consideration of the motility without the necessity for local adhesion. Besides a detailed numerical approach together with convergence studies for the highly nonlinear free boundary problem, we also compare the induced flow field of the motile cell with that of classical squirmer models and identify the motile cell as a puller or pusher, depending on the strength of the myosin-actin interactions.
Institut für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, TU Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany.
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W
Marth
Institut für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, TU Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany.
S
S
Praetorius
Institut für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, TU Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany axel.voigt@tu-dresden.de.
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A
Voigt
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D005782:Gels; D009218:Myosins
Helfrich model; active polar gel; cell motility; spontaneous symmetry breaking; swimmer