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Shedding light on spatial signal transduction in cells using computational simulations

We present Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport (SMART), a software package that simulates spatiotemporally detailed biochemical reaction networks within realistic cellular and subcellular geometries. This paper highlights the use of SMART in several biological test cases including cellular mechanotransduction, calcium signaling in neurons and cardiomyocytes, and adenosine triphosphate synthesis.

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Fig. 1: Simulation of calcium signaling within a realistic dendritic spine geometry.

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This is a summary of: Francis, E. A. et al. Spatial modeling algorithms for reactions and transport in biological cells. Nat. Comput. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43588-024-00745-x (2024).

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Shedding light on spatial signal transduction in cells using computational simulations. Nat Comput Sci 5, 99–100 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43588-025-00772-2

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