Haptotactic Motion of Multivalent Vesicles Along Ligand-Density Gradients.

ABSTRACT: Multivalent adhesion between cell-membrane receptors and surface- or particle-anchored ligands underpins a range of active cellular processes, such as cell crawling and pathogen invasion. In these circumstances, motion is often caused by gradients in ligand density, which constitutes a simple example of haptotaxis. To unravel the biophysics of a potential passive mechanism for haptotaxis, we have designed an experimental model system in which multivalent lipid vesicles adhere to a substrate and migrate toward higher ligand densities. Adhesion occurs via vesicle-anchored receptors and substrate-anchored ligands, both consisting of synthetic DNA linkers that allow precise control over binding strength. Experimental data, rationalized through numerical and theoretical models, reveal that moti

SUBMITTER: Sleath H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12080341 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature