Cell Movements in the Pattern Formation of Dictyostelium discoideum

Toshio Sekimura and Youichi Kobuchi¹

College of Engineering, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi 487, Japan
¹Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606, Japan

Keywords: Dictyostelium discoideum, Pattern Formation, Cell Movement

Abstract. Following the previous analyses of spatial cell patterns of Dictyostelium discoideum, we have studied cell trajectories and velocities during cell sorting in spheroidal cell aggregates of dissociated slug cells, through computer simulations in a two dimensional discrete framework. Comparing the results with experimental observations, we have confirmed our previous main conclusion about the cell sorting mechanism: the three possible factors (i.e., randomness in cell movement, differential chemotaxis, and differential cell adhesion) are all indispensable, and the differential cell adhesion should be working in such a way that prestalk and prespore cells intermingle with each other.