English

Modelling adhesion-independent cell migration

Analysis of PDEs 2020-12-14 v2 Cell Behavior

Abstract

A two-dimensional mathematical model for cells migrating without adhesion capabilities is presented and analyzed. Cells are represented by their cortex, which is modelled as an elastic curve, subject to an internal pressure force. Net polymerization or depolymerization in the cortex is modelled via local addition or removal of material, driving a cortical flow. The model takes the form of a fully nonlinear degenerate parabolic system. An existence analysis is carried out by adapting ideas from the theory of gradient flows. Numerical simulations show that these simple rules can account for the behavior observed in experiments, suggesting a possible mechanical mechanism for adhesion-independent motility.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1903.09426,
  title  = {Modelling adhesion-independent cell migration},
  author = {Gaspard Jankowiak and Diane Peurichard and Anne Reversat and Christian Schmeiser and Michael Sixt},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1903.09426},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

22 pages and 9 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T08:16:03.952Z