Theoretical model for cellular shapes driven by protrusive and adhesive forces.

ABSTRACT: The forces that arise from the actin cytoskeleton play a crucial role in determining the cell shape. These include protrusive forces due to actin polymerization and adhesion to the external matrix. We present here a theoretical model for the cellular shapes resulting from the feedback between the membrane shape and the forces acting on the membrane, mediated by curvature-sensitive membrane complexes of a convex shape. In previous theoretical studies we have investigated the regimes of linear instability where spontaneous formation of cellular protrusions is initiated. Here we calculate the evolution of a two dimensional cell contour beyond the linear regime and determine the final steady-state shapes arising within the model. We find that shapes driven by adhesion or by actin polymerizatio

SUBMITTER: Kabaso D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3088653 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature