Integrative experimental/computational approach establishes active cellular protrusion as the primary driving force of phagocytic spreading by immune cells
Fig 3
Predictions of the Brownian zipper model.
(A) A model cell spreading on the highest tested ligand density (100%) quickly approaches a spherical cap morphology. Time stamps are included for each snapshot. (B) Curves of contact area vs. time show that the spreading rate decreases monotonically. The contact area ultimately approaches steady-state values predicted by the Young-Dupre equation (dashed lines). Predicted equilibrium shapes are included on the right. (C) Log-log plot of contact area vs. time is nearly linear over the initial spreading phase. The slope of this line corresponds to the exponent of a power law describing contact area growth as a function of time. The dashed line shows a slope of 0.5 for reference.