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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
10:54
Quantitative Analysis of Cell Edge Dynamics during Cell Spreading
Published on: May 22, 2021
6.2K
Cell spreading area regulates clathrin-coated pit dynamics on micropatterned substrate
Xinyu Tan1, Johanna Heureaux, Allen P Liu
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan MI 48105, USA. allenliu@umich.edu.
Summary
Physical cues regulate clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) dynamics. Cell spreading area influences clathrin-coated pit (CCP) lifetime and initiation, modulated by the actin cytoskeleton.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a primary route for protein and lipid internalization.
- Endocytic accessory proteins regulate clathrin-coated pit (CCP) assembly dynamics.
- The impact of physical cues on CCP dynamics remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how physical cues, specifically cell spreading area, affect CCP dynamics.
- To explore the relationship between cell mechanical state and CME regulation.
Main Methods:
- Microcontact printing was used to control cell shape and spreading area.
- CCP dynamics were examined across cells of varying spreading areas.
- Fluorescence intensity of CCPs was measured in relation to cell spreading.
Main Results:
- Larger cell spreading areas correlated with shorter-lived CCPs and increased CCP initiation rates.
- CCP fluorescence intensity decreased with increasing cell spreading area.
- This decrease was dependent on the cortical actin network's integrity.
Conclusions:
- Cell spreading area, a physical cue, significantly modulates CCP dynamics.
- CME regulation is influenced by cellular mechanical state and actin cytoskeleton remodeling.
- These findings add a new dimension to understanding CME regulation during cellular processes.
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