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Quantitative Analysis of Cell Edge Dynamics during Cell Spreading
Published on: May 22, 2021
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Persistent and polarized global actin flow is essential for directionality during cell migration.
Lawrence Yolland1,2, Mubarik Burki1, Stefania Marcotti1
1Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK.
Nature Cell Biology
|November 6, 2019
Summary
Cell directionality in migration is controlled by stable actin-flow polarity, not just leading edge extension. This internal cell organization guides persistent cell movement.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell migration is crucial for development and disease.
- The role of the leading edge in cell directionality is debated.
- Understanding the mechanisms controlling cell motility is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the control of cell directionality during migration.
- To bridge different temporal scales of cellular behaviors in motility.
- To identify the key factors governing cell persistence.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing embryonic Drosophila macrophages for migration studies.
- Analyzing temporal scales of cellular behaviors.
- Quantifying actin network flow structure and organization.
- Investigating regulation by actin network compression, destruction, myosin contraction, and cofilin-mediated disassembly.
Main Results:
- Leading edge fluctuations are not persistent and weakly correlated with motion.
- Actin network flow behind the leading edge is highly persistent.
- A stable, asymmetric cell-wide actin flowfield strongly correlates with cell directionality.
- Actin flow polarity is regulated by myosin contraction and cofilin-mediated disassembly.
Conclusions:
- Cell directionality is controlled by stable actin-flow polarity, not solely by leading edge dynamics.
- This internal actin organization integrates rapid leading edge fluctuations to control cell persistence.
- Myosin contraction and cofilin-mediated disassembly are key regulators of actin-flow polarity.
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