Guided by curvature: A theoretical model of cellular shape dynamics and motility, coupling curvature and activity

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• Nir Gov (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Tuesday 05 September 2023, 11:30-12:00
• Seminar Room 1, Newton Institute.

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SPLW02 - Active mechanics, from single cells to cell layers, tissues and development

How cells can control their shapes, and utilize these shape changes functionally, for example during migration, is an ongoing challenge in biology. One mechanism is by expressing curved membrane proteins, while in addition, cells deform their membranes by exerting cytoskeleton-based forces, such as the recruitment of actin polymerization to the membrane. Combining these two membrane deforming mechanisms, opens up the possibility for a variety of feedbacks. For example, convex proteins (protruding outwards) enhance their aggregation when recruiting protrusive forces (due to actin polymerization), and this coupling can induce strong pattern formation that spontaneously breaks the uniform state. The study of how membranes deform and evolve when driven by this curvature-activity coupling for unrestricted (larg! e) deformations, has only just began. We have found that this system can explain the lamellipodia-driven spreading of adhering cells, and that it contains the minimal ingredients to exhibit spontaneous motility. We present results on the role of the curvature-force coupling in the context of different cellular problems, such as phagocytosis, cell migration over curved surfaces, filopodia protrusions, macropinocytosis and response of cells to shear flow. The simplicity of the model, with a small number of components, enables us to gain deep understanding of a large variety of biological phenomena.

This talk is part of the Isaac Newton Institute Seminar Series series.

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