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ERK-Mediated Mechanochemical Waves Direct Collective Cell Polarization
Naoya Hino1, Leone Rossetti2, Ariadna Marín-Llauradó2
1Laboratory of Bioimaging and Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Developmental Cell
|June 5, 2020
Summary
Collective cell migration relies on mechanical forces and biochemical signals. This study reveals how extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling transmits guidance cues over long distances, coordinating cell movements for tissue-scale alignment.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Collective cell migration is crucial for tissue development and repair.
- Mechanical forces transmitted through cell-cell junctions direct migration, but coordination with biochemical signaling is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of intercellular force transmission coordinated with intracellular biochemical signaling during collective cell migration.
- To investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in mediating mechanochemical feedback for long-distance cue transmission.
Main Methods:
- Investigated mechanochemical feedback loops involving ERK signaling and cell contraction.
- Utilized models of mechanical stretch and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation.
- Analyzed anisotropic contraction and front-rear polarization in directed cell migration.
Main Results:
- Mechanical stretch activates ERK via EGFR, triggering cell contraction.
- Activated cell contraction propagates ERK activation and contraction to neighboring cells.
- Unidirectional ERK activation waves, driven by anisotropic contraction, align multicellular polarity for ordered migration.
Conclusions:
- Intercellular coupling of ERK-mediated mechanochemical feedback enables long-distance transmission of guidance cues.
- Mechanical forces are key mediators of intercellular signaling for sustained collective cell migration.
- This mechanism ensures coordinated, tissue-scale alignment during collective cell movements.
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