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SUMMARY:Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneities in a Mechano-Chemical Model of Col
 lective Cell Migration - Andreas Buttenschoen (University of Massachusetts
 )
DTSTART:20230810T150000Z
DTEND:20230810T160000Z
UID:TALK201451@talks.cam.ac.uk
DESCRIPTION:Small GTPases\, such as Rac and Rho\, are well known central r
 egulators of cell morphology and motility\, whose dynamics also play a rol
 e in coordinating collective cell migration. Experiments have shown GTPase
  dynamics to be affected by both chemical and mechanical cues\, but also t
 o be spatially and temporally heterogeneous. This heterogeneity is found b
 oth within a single cell\, and between cells in a tissue. For example\, so
 metimes the leader and follower cells display an inverted GTPase configura
 tion. While progress on understanding GTPase dynamics in single cells has 
 been made\, a major remaining challenge is to understand the role of GTPas
 e heterogeneity in collective cell migration. Motivated by recent one-dime
 nsional experiments (e.g. micro-channels) we introduce a one-dimensional m
 odelling framework allowing us to integrate cell bio-mechanics\, changes i
 n cell size\, and detailed intra-cellular signalling circuits (reaction-di
 ffusion equations). Using this framework\, we build cell migration models 
 of both loose (mesenchymal) and cohering (epithelial) tissues. We use nume
 rical simulations\, and analysis tools\, such as local perturbation analys
 is\, to provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms coordinating colle
 ctive cell migration. We show how feedback from mechanical tension to GTPa
 se activation lead to a variety of dynamics\, resembling both normal and p
 athological behavior.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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