Modeling Multipolar Cell Division through Forces Generated by Microtubules Interacting with Motors and Kinetochores

Chen, Ye

Student Work

Modeling Multipolar Cell Division through Forces Generated by Microtubules Interacting with Motors and Kinetochores

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Curing cancer has been one of the major focuses in medical areas, yet its causes remain unclear. Generally, cancer is caused by a spurious process of cell division. This research primarily focuses on the internal forces within cell division, such that we attempt to predict the movement of microtubules using given parameters of a cell. We model the internal forces by analyzing each motor inside a cell and their roles in changing position of centrosomes and forming a bipolar cell division. To achieve this goal, we apply basic physics laws to express each force involved, use ordinary differential equations that transforms the problem into a mathematical one, and implement MATLAB codes to both solve for the ODE and model the process graphically. We consider the stochastic forces driven by motors, including kinesin-5, kinesin-14, microtubules, dyneins, and chromosomes. With previous studies in internal forces, we primarily focus on the effects of chromosomes in changing the movements of centrosomes, hence in cell division. The results generated from a small number of simulation suggest that a high MT-chromosome interaction can significantly contribute to moving chromosomes through forces generated by chromokinesin. Further investigation with larger number of simulations and more focused manipulations of the parameters is essential for more accurate simulation of cell divisions.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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