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Mathematical Simulation of Membrane Protein Clustering for Efficient Signal Transduction

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Abstract

Initiation and propagation of cell signaling depend on productive interactions among signaling proteins at the plasma membrane. These diffusion-limited interactions can be influenced by features of the membrane that introduce barriers, such as cytoskeletal corrals, or microdomains that transiently confine both transmembrane receptors and membrane-tethered peripheral proteins. Membrane topographical features can lead to clustering of receptors and other membrane components, even under very dynamic conditions. This review considers the experimental and mathematical evidence that protein clustering impacts cell signaling in complex ways. Simulation approaches used to consider these stochastic processes are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH R01CA119323 (to BW), NIH P50GM085273 (the New Mexico Spatiotemporal Modeling Center), and NIH K25CA131558 (to AH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Krishnan Radhakrishnan & Bridget S. Wilson

  2. Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Jeremy S. Edwards

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Meghan M. McCabe & Jeremy S. Edwards

  4. Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Jeremy S. Edwards & Bridget S. Wilson

  5. Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Ádám Halász

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  1. Krishnan Radhakrishnan
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  2. Ádám Halász
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  3. Meghan M. McCabe
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  4. Jeremy S. Edwards
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  5. Bridget S. Wilson
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Correspondence to Bridget S. Wilson.

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Associate Editor Michael R. King oversaw the review of this article.

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Radhakrishnan, K., Halász, Á., McCabe, M.M. et al. Mathematical Simulation of Membrane Protein Clustering for Efficient Signal Transduction. Ann Biomed Eng 40, 2307–2318 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-012-0599-z

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