A minimal mechanosensing model predicts keratocyte evolution on flexible substrates.

Area of Science:

• Cellular mechanics
• Biophysics
• Mathematical biology

Background:

• Fish epidermal keratocytes exhibit complex shape evolution and locomotion on elastic substrates.
• Cellular mechanosensing, the ability of cells to detect and respond to mechanical stimuli, plays a crucial role in these processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mathematical model that describes the shape evolution and locomotion of fish epidermal keratocytes on elastic substrates.
• To investigate the role of mechanosensing and substrate stress in dictating cell behavior.

Main Methods:

• A mathematical model incorporating mechanosensing concepts and contractile forces was developed.
• The level set method was employed for numerical simulations of the model's behavior.

Main Results:

• The model predicts symmetry breaking from a stationary state to a propagating crescent shape.
• It also simulates asymmetric bipedal oscillations and traveling waves at the cell's leading edge.
• The model accurately reproduces cellular responses to external mechanical stress (tensotaxis) and substrate stiffness gradients (durotaxis).

Conclusions:

• The proposed mathematical model provides a robust framework for understanding keratocyte behavior on elastic substrates.
• Mechanosensing and substrate stress are key determinants of cell shape, locomotion, and response to mechanical cues.