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Trade-off between branching and polarity controls decision-making during cell migration.

Jiayi Liu1,2, Javier Boix-Campos3, Jonathan E Ron1,4

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

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Summary

Cell shape dynamics during navigation in complex environments were studied. A new model reveals that competing cellular protrusions, like a seesaw, determine directional choices, impacting migration speed and branching.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Theoretical Biology

Background:

  • Motile cells encounter environmental obstacles, necessitating multiple protrusions for navigation.
  • Previous analyses of cell directionality were limited to single-junction scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the migratory behavior of highly branched cells in complex geometries.
  • To develop a theoretical model for understanding directional decision-making in cells facing multiple junctions.

Main Methods:

  • Combined live-cell imaging with a coarse-grained biophysical model.
  • Studied macrophages and endothelial cells on hexagonal networks.

Main Results:

  • The model predicts directional choices arise from seesaw-like oscillations between competing cellular protrusions.
  • Macrophages and endothelial cells exhibit distinct migratory regimes despite a shared mesenchymal strategy.
  • Identified a trade-off between protrusion number (for exploration) and migration speed (for efficiency).

Conclusions:

  • Cellular shape dynamics are crucial for navigation in complex microenvironments.
  • The model provides insights into how cells balance local exploration with efficient long-range migration.
  • Understanding these dynamics is key for regulating cell movement in confined spaces.