Nucleation of cadherin clusters on cell-cell interfaces

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Cadherins are vital proteins mediating cell-cell adhesion, influencing cell shape and function.
• Understanding cadherin organization is key to comprehending tissue development and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the collective organization and interactions of cadherins within cell-cell contact areas.
• To determine the critical cadherin density at which a phase transition, leading to cluster formation, occurs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 2D lattice model to simulate cell-cell contact areas.
• Employed coarse-graining to represent cadherin number density.
• Mapped the model onto the Cahn-Hilliard coarsening theory for analytical predictions.

Main Results:

• Identified a 'gas-liquid' phase transition in cadherin organization.
• Predicted the specific cadherin density required for monomer aggregation into clusters.
• Determined the characteristic length scale and number density of emergent cadherin clusters.

Conclusions:

• The developed model accurately predicts cadherin clustering phenomena.
• Analytical predictions align well with experimental observations of cadherin clustering in epithelial tissues.
• Provides insights into the biophysical mechanisms governing cell-cell adhesion and tissue morphogenesis.