Local Excitation, Global Inhibition Mechanism for Gradient Sensing: An Interactive Applet

Brett Kutscher¹, Peter Devreotes², and Pablo A. Iglesias^1*

¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, 226 Barton Hall, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
²Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, 114 WBSB, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

Abstract: We have proposed a model in which cells detect gradients of chemoattractant by balancing a fast local excitation and a slower global inhibition. To illustrate this general mechanism, we have developed an interactive applet that mimics laboratory experiments in which either spatially homogeneous or heterogeneous stimuli of chemoattractant are applied.

*Corresponding author. Telephone, +1-410-516-6026; fax, +1-410-516-5566; e-mail, pi{at}jhu.edu

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