Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 24: Posters: Physics of Cells

BP 24.14: Poster

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 17:30–19:30, Poster C

Spatial versus temporal gradient stimuli in eukaryotic chemotaxis — •Alexander Anielski, Eva Pfannes, and Carsten Beta — Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, Germany

Chemotaxis, the directed movement of a cell in response to a chemical gradient, is a fundamental property that governs numerous essential processes like wound healing, cancer metastasis, and embryonic development. Here, we present for the first time an experimental setup to separately address the dependencies of the chemotactic motion on the average background concentration and on the gradient steepness. In particular, this setup allows us to investigate the role of spatial versus temporal sensing. Our method relies on a computer controlled motorized microscope stage to compensate chemotactic cell movement in response to different stimuli. We use the controlled photolysis of caged compounds in a microfluidic chamber to address single cells with well-controlled concentration signals in space and time (flow photolysis). We show results from experiments with the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum to exemplify the role of spatial versus temporal gradient sensing in this widely used model organism of eukaryotic chemotaxis.