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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2025

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Published on: November 1, 2021

Persistent cell migration emerges from a coupling between protrusion dynamics and polarized trafficking.

Kotryna Vaidžiulytė^1,2,3, Anne-Sophie Macé⁴, Aude Battistella¹

¹Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.

|March 18, 2022

Summary

Cell migration becomes persistent when the Nucleus-Golgi axis aligns with cell movement direction. This alignment, driven by polarized trafficking and cell protrusions, ensures efficient and directional cell migration over time.

Keywords:

Golgi apparatus RhoGTPase cell architecture cell biology human model optogenetics persistent migration physics of living systems polarity polarized trafficking subcellular organization

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Cell migration can be random or directional.
Persistent migration necessitates stable cell polarization.

Purpose of the Study:

Quantitatively analyze the emergence of persistent cell migration in immortalized retinal pigment epithelial (RPE1) cells.
Investigate the role of the Nucleus-Golgi axis and polarized trafficking in directed cell movement.

Main Methods:

Live cell imaging and dynamic micropatterning techniques were employed.
Internal cell organization was disrupted to observe effects on migration.
Optogenetic activation of Cdc42 was used to manipulate cell polarity.

Main Results:

The Nucleus-Golgi axis aligns with the migration direction, facilitating efficient cell movement.
Polarized trafficking is directed towards cell protrusions with a 20-minute delay.
Disrupting internal organization leads to random cell migration.
Optogenetic Cdc42 activation successfully orients the Nucleus-Golgi axis.

Conclusions:

Polarized trafficking stabilizes cell protrusive activity, which in turn orients the polarity axis, resulting in persistent cell migration.
A minimal physical model confirms that this feedback loop is sufficient to explain observed cell migration dynamics.