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Adhesion clutch and microtubule dynamics in nerve growth cone
Mathematical Biology| Speaker: | Erin Craig, UC Davis |
| Location: | 2112 MSB |
| Start time: | Mon, May 10 2010, 3:10PM |
In the motile cells, growth of actin polymer is translated into cell migration in the presence of adhesion of the polymers to the surface. Multiple observation lead to the 'adhesion clutch' hypothesis: if the adhesion is too weak, then instead of migration the cell just 'treadmills', so the adhesion clutch has to 'engage' for migration to start. We will examine this concept mathematically using nerve growth cone as the model system. We will also present an analysis of dynamics of the polymers called microtubules that regulate the adhesion clutch and play a crucial role in switching on the cell migration.