Eur. Phys. J. E (2013) 36: 32
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2013-13032-1

Regular Article

Theoretical model for cell migration with gradient sensing and shape deformation

¹⁹⁸⁴⁶ Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 565-0871, Hyogo, Japan
²⁹⁸⁴⁶ Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan

^* e-mail: tetsuhiraiwa@gmail.com
^** e-mail: tatsuoshibata@cdb.riken.jp

Received: 19 October 2012
Accepted: 11 March 2013
Published online: 11 April 2013

Abstract

Amoeboid cells take various shapes during migration, depending on the cell type and its environment. Deformability of the cell shape can then affect the migrating behavior. In this article, we introduce a theoretical model of chemotactic cell migration with elliptical shape deformation. Based on the model, we calculate the stationary distributions of the migration directions analytically. As a result, we find that the distributions show different characteristics depending on the difference in the interdependence of the internal polarity, cell morphology and gradient sensing.