Testing the limits of gradient sensing.
The ability to detect a chemical gradient is fundamental to many cellular processes. In multicellular organisms gradient sensing plays an important role in many physiological processes such as wound healing and development. Unicellular organisms use gradient sensing to move (chemotaxis) or grow (che...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2017-02-01
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| Series: | PLoS Computational Biology |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5347372?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818506177170898944 |
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| author | Vinal Lakhani Timothy C Elston |
| author_facet | Vinal Lakhani Timothy C Elston |
| author_sort | Vinal Lakhani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ability to detect a chemical gradient is fundamental to many cellular processes. In multicellular organisms gradient sensing plays an important role in many physiological processes such as wound healing and development. Unicellular organisms use gradient sensing to move (chemotaxis) or grow (chemotropism) towards a favorable environment. Some cells are capable of detecting extremely shallow gradients, even in the presence of significant molecular-level noise. For example, yeast have been reported to detect pheromone gradients as shallow as 0.1 nM/μm. Noise reduction mechanisms, such as time-averaging and the internalization of pheromone molecules, have been proposed to explain how yeast cells filter fluctuations and detect shallow gradients. Here, we use a Particle-Based Reaction-Diffusion model of ligand-receptor dynamics to test the effectiveness of these mechanisms and to determine the limits of gradient sensing. In particular, we develop novel simulation methods for establishing chemical gradients that not only allow us to study gradient sensing under steady-state conditions, but also take into account transient effects as the gradient forms. Based on reported measurements of reaction rates, our results indicate neither time-averaging nor receptor endocytosis significantly improves the cell's accuracy in detecting gradients over time scales associated with the initiation of polarized growth. Additionally, our results demonstrate the physical barrier of the cell membrane sharpens chemical gradients across the cell. While our studies are motivated by the mating response of yeast, we believe our results and simulation methods will find applications in many different contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:00:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10af1d7f9056467280727675ff82ec19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1553-734X 1553-7358 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:00:59Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Computational Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-10af1d7f9056467280727675ff82ec192022-12-22T01:31:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582017-02-01132e100538610.1371/journal.pcbi.1005386Testing the limits of gradient sensing.Vinal LakhaniTimothy C ElstonThe ability to detect a chemical gradient is fundamental to many cellular processes. In multicellular organisms gradient sensing plays an important role in many physiological processes such as wound healing and development. Unicellular organisms use gradient sensing to move (chemotaxis) or grow (chemotropism) towards a favorable environment. Some cells are capable of detecting extremely shallow gradients, even in the presence of significant molecular-level noise. For example, yeast have been reported to detect pheromone gradients as shallow as 0.1 nM/μm. Noise reduction mechanisms, such as time-averaging and the internalization of pheromone molecules, have been proposed to explain how yeast cells filter fluctuations and detect shallow gradients. Here, we use a Particle-Based Reaction-Diffusion model of ligand-receptor dynamics to test the effectiveness of these mechanisms and to determine the limits of gradient sensing. In particular, we develop novel simulation methods for establishing chemical gradients that not only allow us to study gradient sensing under steady-state conditions, but also take into account transient effects as the gradient forms. Based on reported measurements of reaction rates, our results indicate neither time-averaging nor receptor endocytosis significantly improves the cell's accuracy in detecting gradients over time scales associated with the initiation of polarized growth. Additionally, our results demonstrate the physical barrier of the cell membrane sharpens chemical gradients across the cell. While our studies are motivated by the mating response of yeast, we believe our results and simulation methods will find applications in many different contexts.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5347372?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Vinal Lakhani Timothy C Elston Testing the limits of gradient sensing. PLoS Computational Biology |
| title | Testing the limits of gradient sensing. |
| title_full | Testing the limits of gradient sensing. |
| title_fullStr | Testing the limits of gradient sensing. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing the limits of gradient sensing. |
| title_short | Testing the limits of gradient sensing. |
| title_sort | testing the limits of gradient sensing |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5347372?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vinallakhani testingthelimitsofgradientsensing AT timothycelston testingthelimitsofgradientsensing |