A one-dimensional moving-boundary model for tubulin-driven axonal growth.

Stefan Diehl, Erik Henningsson, Anders Heyden, S Perna

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A one-dimensional continuum-mechanical model of axonal elongation due to assembly of tubulin dimers in the growth cone is presented. The conservation of mass leads to a coupled system of three differential equations. A partial differential equation models the dynamic and the spatial behaviour of the concentration of tubulin that is transported along the axon from the soma to the growth cone. Two ordinary differential equations describe the time-variation of the concentration of free tubulin in the growth cone and the speed of elongation. All steady-state solutions of the model are categorized. Given a set of the biological parameter values, it is shown how one easily can infer whether there exist zero, one or two steady-state solutions and directly determine the possible steady-state lengths of the axon. Explicit expressions are given for each stationary concentration distribution. It is thereby easy to examine the influence of each biological parameter on a steady state. Numerical simulations indicate that when there exist two steady states, the one with shorter axon length is unstable and the longer is stable. Another result is that, for nominal parameter values extracted from the literature, in a large portion of a fully grown axon the concentration of free tubulin is lower than both concentrations in the soma and in the growth cone.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)194-207
JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology
Volume358
Issue numberOnline 21 June 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Computational Mathematics
  • Neurosciences
  • Cell Biology
  • Mathematics

Free keywords

  • Neurite elongation
  • Partial differential equation
  • Steady state
  • Polymerization
  • Microtubule cytoskeleton

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