Amoeboid cells use protrusions for walking, gliding and swimming

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Biophysics
• Mechanobiology

Background:

• Amoeboid cells utilize pseudopods for locomotion, extending cell surface protrusions to move.
• Typical laboratory studies often simplify environments, yet wild cells encounter heterogeneous conditions like obstacles and liquids.
• Understanding cellular adaptation to varied environments is crucial for comprehending cell migration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pseudopod life cycle of amoeboid cells in different environments (substrate and liquid).
• To analyze the movement strategies of wild type and mutant cells in heterogeneous conditions.
• To determine how the pseudopod cycle facilitates distinct locomotion modes: walking, gliding, and swimming.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of wild type and mutant amoeboid cell movement.
• Observation of cell behavior on substrates and in liquid suspension.
• Investigation of pseudopod dynamics and adhesion properties during locomotion.

Main Results:

• The same pseudopod cycle supports three distinct movement types: walking (substrate with adhesion), gliding (smooth substrate, faster mutants), and swimming (liquid).
• Firm pseudopod adhesion enables cells to overcome obstacles during walking.
• Mutant cells with reduced adhesion exhibit faster gliding but impaired obstacle navigation.
• In liquid, pseudopods transform into rearward-moving bumps, generating drag for swimming.

Conclusions:

• Amoeboid cells exhibit remarkable adaptability through a versatile pseudopod cycle, enabling efficient locomotion across diverse environments.
• Adhesion dynamics are critical for substrate-based movement and obstacle avoidance.
• The pseudopod cycle's plasticity allows for distinct swimming and walking/gliding mechanisms, highlighting cellular mechanosensitivity.