Dynamics of a cell motility model near the sharp interface limit.

Area of Science:

• Computational Biology
• Biophysics
• Mathematical Modeling

Background:

• Phase-field models are effective for simulating eukaryotic cell dynamics and motility.
• Previous analysis showed that persistent cell motion is unstable in the sharp interface limit of a minimal phase-field model.
• Understanding the behavior of cell motility models near this limit is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically investigate the pre-limiting phase-field model near the sharp interface limit.
• To understand the reasons behind the instability of persistent cell motion.
• To explore the range of dynamic states exhibited by the minimal phase-field model.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations of the minimal phase-field model.
• Analysis of model behavior in the regime approaching the sharp interface limit.
• Investigation of cell states including immobile, persistent, and rotating motion.

Main Results:

• The minimal phase-field model exhibits immobile, persistent, and rotating cell states.
• Persistent motion is observed in the pre-limiting regime.
• The study elucidates the loss of persistent motion as the model approaches the sharp interface limit.

Conclusions:

• The minimal phase-field model demonstrates diverse motility behaviors.
• The transition to the sharp interface limit leads to the loss of stable persistent cell motion.
• This work provides insights into the limitations of phase-field models for stable eukaryotic cell motility.