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

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Biophysics
• Tissue engineering

Background:

• Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are crucial for cell movement at single-cell and tissue levels.
• Optogenetic tools offer potential for engineering-based control of RTK signaling and tissue shaping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess a light-controlled epidermal growth factor receptor (OptoEGFR) for precise control of tissue movements.
• To investigate the signaling pathways driving light-induced tissue rearrangements.

Main Methods:

• Engineered an optogenetic version of the epidermal growth factor receptor (OptoEGFR).
• Utilized optogenetics in epithelial cells to control OptoEGFR activity with light.
• Quantified light-induced cell rearrangements and tissue shape changes at millimeter scales.

Main Results:

• Light stimulation of OptoEGFR induced millimeter-scale tissue movements, including densification and outgrowth.
• Light-controlled tissue movements were primarily driven by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling.
• The observed movements were independent of diffusible ligands, tissue contractility, or ERK signaling.

Conclusions:

• Synthetic, light-controlled RTKs provide a powerful platform for precise control of cell positioning and density.
• OptoEGFR technology enables programmable sculpting of tissue shape and function.
• Potential applications include wound healing and tissue morphogenesis.