Large-scale control over collective cell migration using light-controlled epidermal growth factor receptors

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biotechnology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulate cell movement at various scales.
• Optogenetic tools offer potential for engineering control over cellular signaling.
• Controlling RTKs could enable precise sculpting of tissue shape and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of a light-controlled EGF receptor (OptoEGFR) for programmable control of tissue movements.
• To demonstrate the ability of OptoEGFR to induce millimeter-scale cell rearrangements.
• To identify the key signaling pathways driving light-induced tissue movements.

Main Methods:

• Development and deployment of a light-controlled EGF receptor (OptoEGFR) in epithelial cell lines.
• Application of light to induce tissue rearrangements.
• Analysis of downstream signaling pathways, including PI 3-kinase, ERK, and tissue contractility.

Main Results:

• Light stimulation of OptoEGFR-expressing tissues drove millimeter-scale cell rearrangements.
• Light controlled tissue expansion or densification depending on the application.
• Tissue movements were primarily mediated by PI 3-kinase signaling.

Conclusions:

• Synthetic, light-controlled RTKs provide a powerful platform for precise control of cell positioning and density.
• This technology has potential applications in wound healing and tissue morphogenesis.
• OptoEGFR enables engineering-based control of long-range tissue movements through targeted signaling.