PHYSICAL MATHEMATICS SEMINAR

TITLE:    	 	LEADING THE WAY; MECHANISM 
		OF CHEMOTAXIS IN EUKARYOTIC CELLS



AUTHOR:		DR. AZADEH SAMADANI
		Materials Processing Center
		Massachusetts Institute of Technology



ABSTRACT: 

Cells make many decisions based on input from the external world. One of these 
decisions concerns chemotaxis, which is a directed motion towards a higher chemical
gradient in the environment.  Unlike bacteria which act as point sensors and determine
static gradients by temporal sampling, most evidence to date suggests that receptor 
occupancy differences across the cell membrane provides the input for directional 
sensing. Various models have been put forth to explain chemotaxis, but the mechanisms 
remain ill-understood.

Cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum serves as a model system for eukaryotic
cells and has unique advantages for studying fundamental cellular processes with powerful
molecular genetic tools. We will exploit these advantages to discover mechanisms of sensing
chemoattractant gradients and to apply this information to higher eukaryotic cells.

In order to obtain quantitative measurement, we are utilizing a microfluidic approach to create
a chemical gradient that is linear, stable and easy to change over time. The main focus of our
experiment is to obtain quantitative data to test and develop existing models of eukaryotic 
chemotaxis.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
2:30 pm
Building 2, Room 338

Refreshments will be served at 3:30 PM in Room 2-349

Massachusetts Institute of Technology,  Department of Mathematics,   Cambridge, MA  02139