Experimentally Guided Computational Model Discovers Important Elements for Social Behavior in Myxobacteria
2011

Model for Social Behavior in Myxobacteria

Sample size: 5000 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Hendrata Melisa, Yang Zhe, Lux Renate, Shi Wenyuan

Primary Institution: California State University Los Angeles

Hypothesis

The active turning behavior of Myxococcus xanthus cells is important for the early gliding pattern formation.

Conclusion

The computational model successfully simulates the early aggregation center formation during Myxococcus xanthus development using five experimentally determined parameters.

Supporting Evidence

  • The model verifies previously known essential parameters and identifies a novel parameter, active turning.
  • Simulations produced good phenotypic agreements with known Myxococcus xanthus mutants.
  • The model accurately simulates the early aggregation center formation during Myxococcus xanthus development.

Takeaway

Myxobacteria cells can work together to form groups, and a new behavior called active turning helps them do this better.

Methodology

A cell-based computational model was developed to simulate gliding behavior and aggregation center formation using experimentally determined parameters.

Limitations

The model may not capture all biological properties and relies on specific experimentally determined parameters.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022169

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