FIGURE 3:

Emergence of polarity in the coupled mechanochemical system. (a–c) With weak feedback between the polarity molecules and the actin networks, the underlying chemicals do not segregate into a polar distribution but remain in a patchy distribution around the cell membrane. In this particular simulation, the bundled actin persists and eliminates the branched actin meshwork in the system. (e–g) For strong coupling constants, both the mechanical and signaling system polarize. The polarity proteins completely segregate and each actin network separates into a peak of activity in complementary regions of the cell membrane. (d, h) Kymographs of the molecular locations of Rac and Rho around the cell edge. Rac/Rho trajectories are blue/yellow, respectively. The weak/strong coupling systems are d/h, respectively.