Jupiter Algorta
@jupiteralgorta.bsky.social
Mathematician exploring the fascinating world of cellular migration and biology. Combining equations and experiments to understand how cells move and interact. 🧫🔬👨🏻💻
Following a hypothesis proposed by Orion and Jason, I tested multiple models and formalisms to explain how cell reversal could be explained.
The key was adding a negative feedback loop (a Rac inhibitor) to the molecules driving cell motion.
With this, simulations finally matched experiments.
The key was adding a negative feedback loop (a Rac inhibitor) to the molecules driving cell motion.
With this, simulations finally matched experiments.
May 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Following a hypothesis proposed by Orion and Jason, I tested multiple models and formalisms to explain how cell reversal could be explained.
The key was adding a negative feedback loop (a Rac inhibitor) to the molecules driving cell motion.
With this, simulations finally matched experiments.
The key was adding a negative feedback loop (a Rac inhibitor) to the molecules driving cell motion.
With this, simulations finally matched experiments.
But when the light expands from part of the cell to illuminate the whole cell, real cells reverse rotation, something previous model(s) failed to predict.
This and other puzzling results led us to revise such models to better understand how cells reorient.
This and other puzzling results led us to revise such models to better understand how cells reorient.
May 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
But when the light expands from part of the cell to illuminate the whole cell, real cells reverse rotation, something previous model(s) failed to predict.
This and other puzzling results led us to revise such models to better understand how cells reorient.
This and other puzzling results led us to revise such models to better understand how cells reorient.
When the light hits one side of the cell, it smoothly reorients toward it.
In simple environments, a previous polarity model captured this motion well.
In simple environments, a previous polarity model captured this motion well.
May 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
When the light hits one side of the cell, it smoothly reorients toward it.
In simple environments, a previous polarity model captured this motion well.
In simple environments, a previous polarity model captured this motion well.
Previous models of cell polarity capture basic movements, but not flexibility. When the chemical signal changes direction, they stay locked in place. Our revised model (right) reorients and tracks the new direction. We’re releasing the full story today as a preprint – link below.
May 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Previous models of cell polarity capture basic movements, but not flexibility. When the chemical signal changes direction, they stay locked in place. Our revised model (right) reorients and tracks the new direction. We’re releasing the full story today as a preprint – link below.
Check this fascinating footage: a neutrophil navigating towards a micropipette. These cells can not only navigate complex, noisy environments, but also rapidly reorient to new cues. Curious about how they do it? Keep reading!
May 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Check this fascinating footage: a neutrophil navigating towards a micropipette. These cells can not only navigate complex, noisy environments, but also rapidly reorient to new cues. Curious about how they do it? Keep reading!
Previous models of cell polarity capture basic movements, but not flexibility. When the chemical signal changes direction, they stay locked in place. Our revised model (right) reorients and tracks the new direction. We’re releasing the full story today as a preprint – link below.
May 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Previous models of cell polarity capture basic movements, but not flexibility. When the chemical signal changes direction, they stay locked in place. Our revised model (right) reorients and tracks the new direction. We’re releasing the full story today as a preprint – link below.
Here’s a short video of one of my simulated cells responding to optogenetic inputs: the green shows Rac concentration on the cell edge, and the blue dashed circles indicate the regions of optogenetic stimulation, mimicking their experimental setup.
January 20, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Here’s a short video of one of my simulated cells responding to optogenetic inputs: the green shows Rac concentration on the cell edge, and the blue dashed circles indicate the regions of optogenetic stimulation, mimicking their experimental setup.
Soon you’ll be able to read about it in a review paper I co-authored with Dr. Leah Keshet, Jack M. Hughes, and Ali Fele-Paranj. The paper has been accepted and will be featured in the next Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives volume on Cell Migration. Here’s a video of the project in action:
January 20, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Soon you’ll be able to read about it in a review paper I co-authored with Dr. Leah Keshet, Jack M. Hughes, and Ali Fele-Paranj. The paper has been accepted and will be featured in the next Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives volume on Cell Migration. Here’s a video of the project in action:
I highly recommend trying out this tool and following along with the tutorial. By the end, you should be able to craft simulations like this one where I have two cells that follow a chemical gradient through chemotaxis:
January 20, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I highly recommend trying out this tool and following along with the tutorial. By the end, you should be able to craft simulations like this one where I have two cells that follow a chemical gradient through chemotaxis: