MODELING OF DICTYOSTELIUM-DISCOIDEUM AGGR EGATION

The aggregation process in populations of Dictyostelium discoideumis m ediated by cell communication through cyclic AMP (cAMP) signals and th e chemotactic response of the cells to concentration gradients of cAMP . In the present paper several simple algorithms that describe relay o f the cAMP signals and chemotaxis are used to create a model that corr ectly predicts the aggregation pattern of the cells. The formation of the aggregative structures and the formation of self-sustaining sourse s of exitation can be studied by using the model, which is of a new ty pe.