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Analysis of a nonlocal model for spontaneous cell polarization. (English) Zbl 1248.35024

Summary: We investigate the dynamics of a nonlocal model describing spontaneous cell polarization. It consists of a drift-diffusion equation set in the half-space, with the coupling involving the trace value on the boundary. We characterize the following behaviors in the one-dimensional case: solutions are global if the mass is below the critical mass and they blow up in finite time above the critical mass. The higher-dimensional case is also discussed. The results are reminiscent of the classical Keller-Segel system, but critical spaces are different (\(L^N\) instead of \(L^{N/2}\) due to the coupling on the boundary). In addition, in the one-dimensional case we prove quantitative convergence results using relative entropy techniques. This work is complemented with a more realistic model that takes into account dynamical exchange of molecular content at the boundary. In the one-dimensional case we prove that blow-up is prevented. Furthermore, density converges toward a nontrivial stationary configuration.

MSC:

35B44 Blow-up in context of PDEs
35B60 Continuation and prolongation of solutions to PDEs
35Q92 PDEs in connection with biology, chemistry and other natural sciences
92C17 Cell movement (chemotaxis, etc.)
92B05 General biology and biomathematics