Excitation, oscillations and wave propagation in a G-protein-based model of signal transduction in Dictyostelium discoideum.

In an earlier paper (Tang & Othmer 1994 Math. Biosci 120, 25-76), we developed a G-protein-based model for signal transduction in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum and showed that it can account for the results from perfusion experiments done by Devreotes and coworkers (Devreotes et al. 1979 J. Cell. 80, 300-309; Devreotes & Steck 1979 J. Cell Biol. 80, 300-309; Dinauer et al. 1980 J. Cell Biol. 86, 537-561). The primary experimental observables are the amounts of cAMP secreted and the time scale of adaptation in response to various stimuli, and we showed that the predictions of the model agree well with the observations. Adaptation in the model arises from dual receptor-mediated pathways, one of which produces a stimulatory G protein Gs and the other of which produces an inhibitory G protein Gi. In this paper we use the model to simulate the suspension experiments of Gerisch & Wick (1975 Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 65, 364-370) and the experiments done in cell cultures on Petri dishes (Tomchik & Devreotes 1981 Science, Wash. 212, 443-446). The model predicts excitation to cAMP stimuli, sustained oscillations, or spiral waves and target patterns, depending on the developmental stage of the cells and experimental conditions. The interaction between different pacemakers is also studied.