Biased excitable networks: how cells direct motion in response to gradients.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Iglesias PA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3415256 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Biased excitable networks: how cells direct motion in response to gradients.
Iglesias Pablo A PA Devreotes Peter N PN
Current opinion in cell biology 20111210 2
The actin cytoskeleton in motile cells has many of the hallmarks of an excitable medium, including the presence of propagating waves. This excitable behavior can account for the spontaneous migration of cells. A number of reports have suggested that the chemoattractant-mediated signaling can bias excitability, thus providing a means by which cell motility can be directed. In this review, we discuss some of these observations and theories proposed to explain them. We also suggest a mechanism for ...[more]
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