Imaging the Cell Fate based on the Concept of Apoptogram

Abstract

This study investigates cell fate selection in a single cell by carrying out theoretical analysis on a parametric 2 Dimensional model. The investigated model involves eight fixed parameters and two tuneable parameters r and m where the tuneable parameters are the determinants of cell fate decision. Using these tuneable parameters as the axes the concept of apoptogram where the exact values of r and m pairs that lead to a certain cell fate decision are portrayed as regions is introduced. The boundaries that depicts the regions are theoretically determined in a parametric fashion so that one can construct an apoptogram image given the values of fixed parameters of the model. The regions that correspond to a cell fate decision in the apoptogram provide valuable insights to investigate and manipulate cell fate decisions. Further studies may utilize such concept as a new tool to explore the complexity of cancer and cancer therapy.