Validation of Yeast Cell-to-Cell Communication Models with Experimental Data

Despite its prompt development, Molecular Communications (MC) still fall short of validation, especially at the microscale level. In the Phero-MolCom project, we are working towards the development of a novel testbed to validate cell-to-cell communications during pheromone secretion in yeast cells. In previous work we presented the system under consideration and reported on initial mathematical models focusing on the representation of the receiver (Rx) towards the characterization of the Rx output gene called "Fus1". In this work, we complement this, with the derivation of the channel impulse response (CIR) of the diffusive medium. By appropriately coupling this with the Rx system of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) we form an overall Rx model. For the first time, we report preliminary experimental measurements derived replacing the Fus1 gene inside the cells with a tractable Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), that can be measured, and is assumed not to alter gene expression. We leverage these experiments, to validate our theoretical modelling approach. The agreement between the theoretical and experimental findings is deemed as satisfying, and the reported deviations are discussed.