Phase-field modeling of border cell cluster migration in Drosophila
Fig 6
Comparison of Fchem and FTIM vector fields.
Vector fields prior to taking the divergences in each of the chemotactic forms. (a) Visualization of the chemotactic force vector field (Fchem), which directs the cluster toward regions of higher chemoattractant concentration. The magnitude and orientation of the force vectors vary in response to spatial changes in the chemoattractant. (b) Visualization of the tangential interface migration force (FTIM), which is generated by interfacial interactions between the cluster and adjacent nurse cells. The enlarged panel shows tangentially oriented vectors along the cluster boundary, capturing contact-mediated propulsion. In both panels migration is shown at the same time t = 340; nurse cell boundaries are denoted by red; black outlines the epithelial layer of the egg chamber; the blue contour marks the oocyte; and the green region represents the border cell cluster.