Figure 6

Progression of phagocytic engulfment with time. Experimental data for small particles with 1.5 μ m radius (A) and large particles with 3 μ m radius (C). The data points represent averages of phagocytic cups obtained at given time points for the three different experimental conditions. Error bars represent the corresponding standard errors. (A, Inset) Proportion of almost completely taken up particles (engulfed surface area larger than 70%) after at least 6 minutes for the three conditions. (B, D) Progression of phagocytic engulfment with time in the simulations for small (B) and large (D) particles. Simulation time was converted to actual time so that 50% average engulfment of small particles by the active zipper corresponds to 6 min. No further adjustment of time conversion was done for large-particle simulations. The data points and error bars represent respectively the statistical average and standard error of phagocytic cups size from several simulations.