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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

Compression and dilation of the membrane-cortex layer generates rapid changes in cell shape.

Maryna Kapustina¹, Timothy C Elston, Ken Jacobson

¹Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. mkapust@med.unc.edu

The Journal of Cell Biology

|January 9, 2013

Summary

Cellular shape changes are driven by a novel compression-dilation mechanism of the plasma membrane-cortex layer. This process generates actin waves, enabling rapid cell migration and shape transformation.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Cells require dynamic shape changes for physiological processes like migration and division.
Maintaining structural integrity during rapid morphological changes is a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate a mechanism for rapid cell shape transformation.
To investigate the role of the plasma membrane-cortex layer in cellular dynamics.

Main Methods:

Utilized live-cell imaging in 2D and 3D.
Analyzed the coupled plasma membrane-cortex layer dynamics.
Investigated the effects of compression and dilation.

Main Results:

Demonstrated compression-dilation of the membrane-cortex layer drives shape changes.
Observed a traveling wave of cortical actin density.
Linked membrane-cortex waves to amoeboid-like cell migration.

Conclusions:

The compression-dilation hypothesis provides a new model for cell shape change.
This mechanism complements existing models like blebbing.
Offers insights into cell migration and cytokinesis.