From Intracellular Traffic to a Novel Class of Driven Lattice Gas Models

Abstract

Motor proteins are key players in intracellular transport processes and biological motion. Theoretical modeling of these systems has been achieved by the use of step processes on one-dimensional lattices. After a comprehensive introduction to the total asymmetric exclusion process and some analytical tools, we will give a review on different lines of research attracted to the aspects of this systems. We will focus on the generic properties of a coupling between the exclusion process and Langmuir bulk kinetics that induce topological changes in the phase diagram and multi-phase coexistence.