Modeling cytokinesis of eukaryotic cells driven by the actomyosin contractile ring

Abstract

A three‐dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic model for cytokinesis of eukaryotic cells is developed, in which we model dynamics of actomyosins in the cell cortex, in particular, along the cytokinetic ring formed in the cortex and in the neighborhood of the cell's division plane explicitly. Specifically, the active force actuated by the actomyosin's activity along the cytokinetic ring is modeled by a surface force whose strength is proportional to the actomyosin concentration while the cell morphology is tracked by a phase field model. The model is then solved in 3D space and time using a finite difference method on graphic processing units. Dynamical morphological patterns of eukaryotic cells during cytokinesis are numerically simulated with the model. These simulated morphological patterns agree quantitatively with experimental observations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 22, 2016
Source ID
10.1002/cnm.2774

Entities

People

  • Jia Zhao
  • Qi Wang

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Science Foundation
  • University of South Carolina

Tags

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Space