Berlin 2015 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 16: Posters: Cell adhesion, mechanics and migration
BP 16.30: Poster
Monday, March 16, 2015, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
Stochastic modeling of gliding motility — •Thorsten Erdmann1,2 and Ulrich S. Schwarz1,2 — 1Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany — 2BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
Gliding motility is a form of movement observed in unicellular organisms such as bacteria or single-celled eukaryotes. In the sporozoites of malaria parasites, gliding is driven by the formation of adhesion bonds with the substrate which are displaced relative to the cell body by the activity of molecular motors. Experimental trajectories of sporozoites reveal strong fluctuations of gliding velocity: On a sub-second time scale, stick-slip-like movement is observed; on larger time scales, gliding is occasionally arrested by large, stationary adhesion patches. In order to investigate the stochastic dynamics of gliding motility, we derive a model for a propulsion mechanism based on the cooperation of multiple, actively displaced adhesion bonds. We study the dynamic regimes of gliding motility emerging from the binding characteristics of the adhesion bonds, which are described either as slip bonds or catch bonds, and from the effective processivity and force-velocity relation characterizing the displacement of the adhesion bonds. In order to assess the role of flexibility of the cell body, we study the motion of elastically coupled, stiff segments of the basic model.