Local modulation of chemoattractant concentrations by single cells: dissection using a bulk-surface computational...

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Biophysics
• Computational modeling

Background:

• Chemoattractant gradients guide cell movement.
• Cells can create their own local chemical gradients ('self-generated gradients').

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the interaction between single cells and chemoattractant fields.
• To investigate how cells modulate local attractant concentrations via enzyme activity.

Main Methods:

• Extended a computational model to include extracellular attractant breakdown by membrane-bound enzymes.
• Parametrized model equations using data from Dictyostelium cells and cyclic AMP (cAMP).

Main Results:

• Individual cells significantly alter their local attractant field under physiological conditions.
• Local attractant breakdown reduces perceived concentration, enabling chemotaxis in saturating environments.
• This mechanism allows efficient directed cell motility.

Conclusions:

• Cells actively shape their chemical microenvironment, influencing their own chemotaxis.
• Local attractant degradation is crucial for efficient cell navigation in complex chemical landscapes.
• This principle may apply to various cell motility types beyond chemotaxis.