Figures
Complex platelet shape explained using calculus of variation
The shape of platelet changes dramatically when activation occurs. Resting, flattened cell becomes a "spiny sphere", facilitating blood clotting. Quantitative model of the shape change is needed for better understanding of hemostasis and for the development of novel antiplatelet therapy strategies. We propose an accurate biophysical description of platelet shape, based on the solution of variational problem. This problem examines tensioned surface lying on the ring of microtubules, which buckles upon activation. Three-dimensional model of platelet shape during activation is easy to build up using our script published along with Moskalensky et al.
Image Credit: Alexander E. Moskalensky et al.
Citation: (2018) PLoS Computational Biology Issue Image | Vol. 14(3) March 2018. PLoS Comput Biol 14(3): ev14.i03. https://doi.org/10.1371/image.pcbi.v14.i03
Published: March 30, 2018
Copyright: © 2018 Moskalensky et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
The shape of platelet changes dramatically when activation occurs. Resting, flattened cell becomes a "spiny sphere", facilitating blood clotting. Quantitative model of the shape change is needed for better understanding of hemostasis and for the development of novel antiplatelet therapy strategies. We propose an accurate biophysical description of platelet shape, based on the solution of variational problem. This problem examines tensioned surface lying on the ring of microtubules, which buckles upon activation. Three-dimensional model of platelet shape during activation is easy to build up using our script published along with Moskalensky et al.
Image Credit: Alexander E. Moskalensky et al.