Authors:

Emmanuel Gichaba

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About Paper:

Calcium ions (Ca2+) play a critical role in various processes, including contraction, transcription, fertilization, and proliferation. While the significance of Ca2+ in these processes is well-established, the specific underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This work aims to develop a computational model that elucidates Ca2+ dynamics, integrates previously observed patterns, and tests the effects of different parameters, such as the synthesis of IP3 (VPLC) and the Ca2+-dependent rate of IP3R inactivation (Kτ). This study successfully reproduced a single-cell model that captures the Ca2+ dynamics of a single cell. The model utilized a set of Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), accounted for Ca2+ concentrations in the cytoplasm and the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the formation and degradation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in the cytoplasm, and IP3 receptors (IP3R) located in the ER membrane. Furthermore, the single-cell model was expanded to develop a two-cell model. Results from the single cell model show that the VPLC parameter leads to an increased frequency of the Ca2+ spikes, from 1 spike/hour to 6 spikes/hour as VPLC goes from 0.75 to 1.6 µM, while Kτ leads to an increase of the period of a Ca2+ spike, from 44.43 seconds to 163.28 seconds as Kτ goes from 0.5 to 1.2 µM. The two-cell model showed that two cells with the same parameter values and different initial conditions will always reach equilibrium. Thus, the two models accurately reproduce previously studied Ca2+ dynamics and serve as valuable tools for comprehending the effects of VPLC, Kτ, and initial condition values.

Source:

Purdue University / 2023

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Co-authors:

Emmanuel Gichaba