Receptor clustering on cell membranes

Apoptosis is an important physiological process since it enables organisms to remove unwanted or damaged cells. The stimulus of the extrinsic signalling pathway of apoptosis is the clustering of TNF-receptors on the cell membrane. We introduce a mathematical model for the clustering of TNF-receptors on the cell membrane. Numerical simulations yield a time evolution of the receptor clusters. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)