Mathematical modelling of intracellular protein dynamics: the importance of the spatial organisation of an eukaryotic cell
In collaboration with M. Parisot (Inria – ANGE, France), M. Lachowicz (University of Warsaw, Poland) and W. Wronowska (University of Warsaw, Poland)
We propose a spatio-temporal model of intracellular protein dynamics, i.e. protein and mRNA production and transport inside a cell, that takes into account active transport along microtubules in the cytoplasm as well as diffusion and is able to reproduce the oscillatory changes in protein concentration observed in many experimental data. On the basis of numerical simulations, we formulate a new hypothesis that the oscillatory dynamics is caused by the mRNA active transport along microtubules from the nucleus to distant locations. The proposed model is generic, built with a focus on the possibility of its adaptation to specific signalling pathways. We extend our previous model of heat shock response pathway, that is crucial in cells adaptation to stress conditions caused by hyperthermia or some cytotoxic drugs, to take into account the spatial organisation of a eukaryotic cell.