Actomyosin contractility and collective migration: may the force be with you
Pahini Pandya1, Jose L Orgaz1, Victoria Sanz-Moreno1
1Tumour Plasticity Team, Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|July 18, 2017
Summary
Cells use mechanical forces and interactions with their environment to migrate collectively during development and disease. Actomyosin contractility is key for cells to sense and respond to these forces.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Collective cell migration is vital for development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis.
- Cells migrating in tissues experience complex forces influencing tissue dynamics.
- Cellular responses to these forces are mediated by interactions with the extracellular matrix.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of mechanics and mechanotransduction in collective cell migration.
- To discuss how cells integrate mechanical signals during collective migration.
- To highlight the central role of actomyosin contractility in this process.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on mechanics and mechanotransduction in collective cell migration.
- Analysis of current knowledge on cellular mechanical signal integration.
- Emphasis on actomyosin contractility as a coordinating hub.
Main Results:
- Cells integrate mechanical signals to coordinate collective migration.
- Actomyosin contractility is a critical mediator of mechanosensing and mechanotransduction.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for both physiological and pathological contexts.
Conclusions:
- Mechanics and mechanotransduction are fundamental to collective cell migration.
- Actomyosin contractility plays a pivotal role in coordinating cellular responses to mechanical cues.
- Further research into these areas can inform therapeutic strategies for diseases involving cell migration.
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