Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...

Cell Migration

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.

Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Investigating local negative feedback of Rac activity by mathematical models and cell-motility simulations.

iScience·2026

Same author

Attentional dynamics explain the elusive nature of context effects.

Psychological review·2026

Same author

Investigating local negative feedback of Rac activity by mathematical models and cell motility simulations.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

A Mechanical Model for the Failure of Reconstructive Breast Implant Surgery Due to Capsular Contracture.

Bulletin of mathematical biology·2025

Same author

Modeling and Simulating Single and Collective Cell Motility.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology·2025

Same author

Impact of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton on Insulin Transport in Beta Cells: A 3D Computational Study.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

Published on: October 3, 2017

From simple to detailed models for cell polarization.

Leah Edelstein-Keshet¹, William R Holmes, Mark Zajac

¹Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada , V6T 1Z2.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences

|September 25, 2013

Summary

This study introduces a new mathematical method, local perturbation analysis, to compare different cell polarization models. This approach simplifies model development and reveals key molecular behaviors for better understanding cell polarization dynamics.

Keywords:

cell polarization mathematical analysis pattern formation reaction–diffusion equations

More Related Videos

AMEBaS: Automatic Midline Extraction and Background Subtraction of Ratiometric Fluorescence Time-Lapses of Polarized Single Cells

AMEBaS: Automatic Midline Extraction and Background Subtraction of Ratiometric Fluorescence Time-Lapses of Polarized Single Cells

Published on: June 23, 2023

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling

Published on: December 12, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

Published on: October 3, 2017

AMEBaS: Automatic Midline Extraction and Background Subtraction of Ratiometric Fluorescence Time-Lapses of Polarized Single Cells

AMEBaS: Automatic Midline Extraction and Background Subtraction of Ratiometric Fluorescence Time-Lapses of Polarized Single Cells

Published on: June 23, 2023

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling

Published on: December 12, 2014

Area of Science:

Mathematical Biology
Cellular Dynamics
Computational Biology

Background:

Numerous mathematical models exist for cell polarization, varying in complexity and approach (functional vs. mechanistic).
Comparing these diverse models is challenging due to differences in detail and methodology.
Existing models contribute to understanding cell polarization but lack a unified comparison framework.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a standardized method for comparing diverse cell polarization models.
To introduce and demonstrate the utility of local perturbation analysis for model comparison.
To highlight novel simulation approaches for capturing complex cellular behaviors.

Main Methods:

Development and application of local perturbation analysis for comparing mathematical models of cell polarization.
Inclusion of both elementary and detailed mechanistic models for comparative analysis.
Utilizing one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and deforming two-dimensional simulations.

Main Results:

Local perturbation analysis effectively simplifies and accelerates the development and comparison of cell polarization models.
The method reveals the impact of model extensions, parameter changes, and genetic manipulations (knock-out/over-expression).
Simulations in deforming 2D environments identified behaviors missed by traditional methods.

Conclusions:

Local perturbation analysis offers a powerful tool for unifying and advancing the study of cell polarization models.
This approach facilitates a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving cell polarization.
Advanced simulation techniques are crucial for uncovering complex cellular dynamics.