Researchers at UC San Diego have created a new software called SMART (Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport) to help simulate cell-signaling networks.
These networks control how cells function and involve many complex steps influenced by the 3D shapes of cells. Existing tools struggle to simulate this accurately, but SMART can handle these complexities, making it a valuable tool for research in biology, pharmacology, and biomedical engineering.
The researchers tested the SMART software on various biological systems, including cell signaling in response to adhesive cues, calcium release in neurons and heart cells, and ATP production in a single mitochondrion.
SMART proved to be a flexible, accurate, and efficient tool for modeling cell-signaling networks. This could lead to more detailed simulations, helping to improve our understanding of cellular behavior and support the development of new treatments for diseases.
SMART offers many possibilities for exploring the impact of cell shape in spatiotemporal signaling models in cell biology. This opportunity is driven by a wealth of imaging data from modalities such as volume electron microscopy and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.
Journal Reference:
- Francis, E.A., Laughlin, J.G., Dokken, J.S. et al. Spatial modeling algorithms for reactions and transport in biological cells. Nat Comput Sci (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43588-024-00745-x
