3D modelling of intracellular active fibre networks for understanding plant development

Tamsin Spelman Cambridge Fluids Network - fluids-related seminars 9 May 2024 1:00pm MR15, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge All Eukaryotic cells, including those that make up our own bodies, have a dynamic and active fibre network known as the cytoskeleton which plays a crucial role in many cellular functions, including structural support and organelle transport. The arrangement of these fibres is essential for facilitating directional cell growth to create the diverse cell shapes necessary for the function of the organism e.g. elongated cells needed for plant stems. In this talk I will discuss the interplay between cell geometry and the cytoskeleton in 3D focussing on the plant root hair cell. The root hair cell is a long, thin single cell which grows off the edge of the plant root. First, we will consider how cell shape directly effects cytoskeleton alignment using our 3D cytoskeleton computational model. We will also consider the opposite where cytoskeleton fibres are created and grow completely freely in 3D space, comparing our simulations to our 3D mathematical mean field theory model. Within the root hair, we will then consider the patterns of cytoskeleton density and link this to nucleus motion and root hair cell shape to develop a model of the growing root hair. We'll explore the effect of various factors on the root hair such as maturation, drug treatments causing cytoskeleton perturbations, and growth in media of various stiffnesses.