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Author Spotlight: Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells
Published on: May 12, 2023
Membrane Tension Gates ERK-Mediated Regulation of Pluripotent Cell Fate
Henry De Belly1, Aki Stubb2, Ayaka Yanagida3
1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Research Institute, Puddicombe Way, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
Abstract:
Cell fate transitions are frequently accompanied by changes in cell shape and mechanics. However, how cellular mechanics affects the instructive signaling pathways controlling cell fate is poorly understood. To probe the interplay between shape, mechanics, and fate, we use mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which change shape as they undergo early differentiation. We find that shape change is regulated by a β-catenin-mediated decrease in RhoA activity and subsequent decrease in the plasma membrane tension. Strikingly, preventing a decrease in membrane tension results in early differentiation defects in ESCs and gastruloids. Decreased membrane tension facilitates the endocytosis of FGF signaling components, which activate ERK signaling and direct the exit from the ESC state. Increasing Rab5a-facilitated endocytosis rescues defective early differentiation. Thus, we show that a mechanically triggered increase in endocytosis regulates early differentiation. Our findings are of fundamental importance for understanding how cell mechanics regulates biochemical signaling and therefore cell fate.
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