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Computational modeling of adhesive contact between a virus and a cell during receptor driven endocytosis
Author(s) -
Wiegold Tillmann,
Klinge Sandra,
Gilbert Robert P.,
Holzapfel Gerhard A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.201900161
Subject(s) - endocytosis , receptor , mechanics , biophysics , front (military) , cell surface receptor , contact inhibition , cell membrane , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane , biology , cell , physics , biochemistry , meteorology
The present contribution deals with the viral entry into a cell dictated by the change of the receptor density. While the receptors of the virus are considered to be fixed on its surface, the ones of the cell are mobile within its membrane. Upon contact, a locally increased receptor density of the cell is required, which causes it to diffuse towards the virus. The membrane inflicts and forms an envelope around the virus in the contact zone. The described problem is simulated on the basis of the assumption that the differential equation typical of the heat transport is suitable to describe the diffusion of receptors. Furthermore, two boundary conditions are proposed. The first condition deals with the balance of fluxes on the front of the adhesion zone, where the velocity is supposed to be proportional to the gradient of the chemical potential. The second condition represents the energy balance equation with contributions due to the binding of receptors, the free energy of the membrane, its curvature and the kinetic energy due to the motion of the front. The selected numerical example shows the change of the receptor density over the membrane as well as the motion of the front of the adhesion zone. Special attention is paid to the mobility of the receptors.