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Fluid dynamics during bleb formation in migrating cells in vivo
Mohammad Goudarzi1, Aleix Boquet-Pujadas2,3, Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin2,3
1Institute of Cell Biology, ZMBE, Münster, Germany.
Plos One
|February 27, 2019
Summary
Cell bleb formation involves cytoplasmic inflow without changing overall cell volume. This suggests internal material redistribution, not external water flow, drives bleb inflation in zebrafish primordial germ cells.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Blebs are dynamic cellular protrusions involved in various cell processes like migration and division.
- Understanding the biophysical mechanisms of bleb formation is crucial for cell motility research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cytoplasmic flow and cell volume changes during bleb formation.
- To elucidate the driving forces behind bleb inflation in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Utilized zebrafish primordial germ cells (PGCs) as an in vivo model system.
- Observed and analyzed cytoplasmic movement and cell volume dynamics during bleb formation.
Main Results:
- Bleb inflation was found to occur concurrently with cytoplasmic inflow into the bleb.
- Total cell volume remained constant during bleb formation, indicating no net water exchange with the external environment.
Conclusions:
- Bleb formation in zebrafish PGCs is primarily driven by the internal redistribution of cellular components.
- The findings challenge the notion of external water influx as the main driver for bleb expansion.
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