Communications on Applied Mathematics and Computation ›› 2024, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (1): 218-235.doi: 10.1007/s42967-022-00240-y

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Mathematical Modeling of Cell Polarity Establishment of Budding Yeast

Yue Liu1, Jun Xie1, Hay-Oak Park2, Wing-Cheong Lo1   

  1. 1. Department of Mathematics, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;
    2. Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
  • Received:2022-07-20 Revised:2022-10-30 Published:2024-04-16
  • Contact: Wing-Cheong Lo,E-mail:wingclo@cityu.edu.hk E-mail:wingclo@cityu.edu.hk
  • Supported by:
    WC benefited greatly from many stimulating discussions on cell polarization modeling with his mentor Dr. Ching-Shan Chou. The authors dedicate this paper to the memory of Dr. Chou, who had a great contribution to cell polarization modeling.

Abstract: The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful model system for studying the cell polarity establishment. The cell polarization process is regulated by signaling molecules, which are initially distributed in the cytoplasm and then recruited to a proper location on the cell membrane in response to spatial cues or spontaneously. Polarization of these signaling molecules involves complex regulation, so the mathematical models become a useful tool to investigate the mechanism behind the process. In this review, we discuss how mathematical modeling has shed light on different regulations in the cell polarization. We also propose future applications for the mathematical modeling of cell polarization and morphogenesis.

Key words: Budding yeast, Cdc42, Morphogenesis, Septin, Mathematical models