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. 2011 Apr 7;7(4):e1002030. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002030

Table 3. Cell and intracellular events that can occur within a simulation cycle.

Cell-Level Events Map to Intracellular Events
Cell state (& color) changes MCell point assignment*
Cell division CellCycle updating at simulation cycle 1
Lumen creation Cell initiates dying
Lumen merging through TJ reorganization Death advances; cell TA decreases
Lumen expansion through TJ reorganization Polarity counter (polarCounter) begins
Lumen expansion without TJ reorganization Decrement cycleCounter
Isolated point engulfed* Decrement polarCounter
Cell perimeter (but not TJs) changes Decrement shiftCounter (TS ISMA only)
Dying complete: cell disappears Compute matrix and lumen contact length, A, TA, & TP
Matrix removal Compute G for a potential index change
Cells change shape

*This event exists only within the ISMA system and has no specific cystogenesis counterpart.

All cell events produce a visible change within the ISMA visualization. Events that map to intracellular events result in a change within a cell, but do not produce a visible change within the ISMA. Cell-level events map to equivalent events between in vitro MDCK cells, lumen, and matrix, while intracellular events map to events (less well understood) within in vitro MDCK cells.