Balancing at the edge of excitability: Implications for cell movement

TL;DR

This paper explores how cells adaptively set their signaling thresholds near bifurcation points to enhance chemotaxis, using simulations inspired by Eduardo Sontag's foundational work.

Contribution

It introduces a novel adaptive scheme for setting cellular signaling thresholds near bifurcation points without explicit knowledge, improving chemotactic efficiency.

Findings

Adaptive threshold setting enhances cell chemotaxis.

Simulation results show improved directional movement.

Method inspired by and extending Eduardo Sontag's work.

Abstract

Cells rely on the ability to sense and respond to small spatial differences in chemoattractant concentrations for survival. There is growing evidence that this is accomplished by setting the signaling system near the threshold for activation in an excitable system and using the spatial heterogeneities to alter the threshold thereby biasing cell activity in the direction of the gradient. Here we consider a scheme by which the set point is adaptively set near the bifurcation point, but without explicit knowledge of this point. Through simulation, we show that the method would improve chemotactic efficiency of cells. The results of this paper are based on pioneering work by Eduardo Sontag and coworkers, to whom this paper is dedicated in honor of his 70th birthday.