Table 1 Model parameters

M

The receptor gain for aspartate, M = 6

Ref. ²⁹

K ₀

The dissociation constant to aspartate for the inactive conformation of the Tar receptor, K₀ = 3.5 μM

Ref. ⁴⁸

K ₁

The dissociation constant to aspartate for the active conformation of the Tar receptor, K₁ = 1000 μM

Ref. ⁴⁸

μ _A

The diffusion coefficient of aspartate molecules, μ_A = 500 μm² s⁻¹

Ref. ⁵⁵

K _A

The aspartate concentration at half-max of its consumption, K_A = 0.5 μM

Ref. ⁵⁶

α _A0

The maximum aspartate consumption rate, α_A0 = 9.3 × 10⁻¹² μmol⁻¹ cell⁻¹

Supplementary Fig. 7g

O _ex

The external oxygen level, O_ex = 250 μM

Ref. ⁵⁷

g _A

The basal ratio of relative consumption rate at zero oxygen, g_A = 0.27

Supplementary Fig. 7g

μ _O

The diffusion coefficient of dissolved oxygen, μ_O = 2500 μm² s⁻¹

Ref. ⁵⁵

α _O

The maximum oxygen consumption rate, α_O = 7×10⁻¹¹ μmol min⁻¹ cell⁻¹

Supplementary Fig. 7g

K _O

The dissolved oxygen concentration at half-max its consumption, K_O = 1 μM

Supplementary Fig. 7g

κ

The oxygen transfer rate through ~ 0.5 cm of PDMS, κ = 0.02 s⁻¹

Ref. ⁵⁸

ρ ₀

Initial cell density, ρ₀ ~ 2.87 × 10¹⁰ cells per mL

This study

x ₀

Length scale of initial cell density profile, x₀ = 0.8 mm

This study

v

Cell swimming speed, v ~ 36 μm s⁻¹

This study

Θ

Directional persistence Θ = 0.16

Ref. ²²

D _rot

Rotational diffusion coefficient during runs, D_rot = 0.062 s⁻¹

Ref. ⁵⁰

k ₀

Parameter in the expression for χ _i /μ _i , k₀ = 22

Ref. ²²

TB₀

Parameter in the expression for χ _i /μ _i , TB₀ = 0.05

Ref. ²²