Biophysical and Molecular mechanisms that control active wetting and tissue fluidification in epithelial tissues.

ABSTRACT: Tissue-level phase transitions are emerging as a crucial mechanism in tumour development and metastasis. This study aims to identify molecular determinants and physical conditions that control active wetting and solid-to-fluid transition of epithelial tissues. We focused on IRSp53, a protein linking plasma membranes to the cytoskeleton. Depleting IRSp53, in MCF10 DCIS.com cells, disrupts coordinated collective movement by promoting local fluctuations in cell velocity resulting in increased tissue fluidity. In dense monolayers, IRSp53 ablation allows cells to escape the physical constraint imposed by cell crowding resulting in a delayed transition toward a jammed state. In 3D spheroids, IRSp53 loss fosters active wetting of a rigid substrate, shifting spheroid behaviour to a more fluid-like

SUBMITTER: Scita G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11908352 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature