Coordinating cell polarization and morphogenesis through mechanical feedback
Samhita P Banavar1,2, Michael Trogdon3, Brian Drawert4
1Department of Physics, University of California, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America.
Plos Computational Biology
|January 28, 2021
Summary
Mechanical feedback is crucial for cell polarization during growth. This study shows that without sufficient mechanical feedback, cell polarity is lost, halting growth; with it, cells maintain polarity and grow robustly.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Systems biology
Background:
- Cellular processes like growth and movement depend on cell polarization.
- Coordination between cell shape (morphogenesis) and cell polarity requires feedback mechanisms.
- The Cell Wall Integrity pathway is investigated for its role in this coordination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of genetically-encoded mechanical feedback in coordinating cell morphogenesis and polarity.
- To understand how mechanical feedback influences cell polarization during budding yeast mating projection growth.
Main Methods:
- Developed a coarse-grained continuum model for coupled cell polarization and morphogenesis dynamics.
- Performed 3D stochastic simulations of molecular polarization in changing cell shapes.
Main Results:
- Weak or absent mechanical feedback leads to loss of cell polarity at the projection tip, arresting growth.
- Above a threshold mechanical feedback strength, cells robustly maintain polarity at the tip.
- Sustained mating projection growth is achieved with adequate mechanical feedback.
Conclusions:
- Mechanical feedback, particularly within the Cell Wall Integrity pathway, is essential for coordinating cell polarization and morphogenesis.
- This feedback provides critical positional information to the molecular machinery, ensuring proper cell function during growth and movement.
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