PATTERN SELECTION BY GENE-EXPRESSION IN DICTYOSTELIUM-DISCOIDEUM

Cells of Dictyostelium discoideum show patterns of cyclic adenosine 3' , 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) waves during the aggregation process. The de tails of the temporal evolution of the pattern depend on the initial c ell density as well as the specific strain. Here, we simulate this pro cess by generalizing the Martiel-Goldbeter biochemical kinetics to inc lude the coupling of the cAMP signaling to the expression levels of ag gregation-stage genes. This model naturally explains the formation of spiral waves at high cell density as well as the surprising results of recent wave-resetting experiments.