Prof. Dr. Barbara Niethammer:
Free boundary problems in models for cell polarization
Time and place
Thursday, 3.7.25, 15:00-16:30, Hörsaal 2
Abstract
Cell polarization denotes the rearrangement of certain substances on the membrane of a cell in response to an external chemical signal.
It is a crucial ingredient in many biological processes, such as for example the motion of cells.
Starting from a bulk-surface reaction-diffusion system for several protein densities describing this process, we rigorously derive nonlocal free boundary problems that allow for a relatively simple characterization of polarization. For these limit systems we prove global stability of steady states and characterize the parameter regime for the onset of polarization. We also discuss some aspects of regularity in time of the free boundary.
(joint work with A. Logioti (Stuttgart), M. Röger (Dortmund) and J. Velazquez (Bonn))