Actin filament elasticity and retrograde flow shape the force-velocity relation of motile cells.

ABSTRACT: Cells migrate through a crowded environment during processes such as metastasis or wound healing, and must generate and withstand substantial forces. The cellular motility responses to environmental forces are represented by their force-velocity relation, which has been measured for fish keratocytes but remains unexplained. Even pN opposing forces slow down lamellipodium motion by three orders of magnitude. At larger opposing forces, the retrograde flow of the actin network accelerates until it compensates for polymerization, and cell motion stalls. Subsequently, the lamellipodium adapts to the stalled state. We present a mechanism quantitatively explaining the cell's force-velocity relation and its changes upon application of drugs that hinder actin polymerization or actomyosin-based cont

SUBMITTER: Zimmermann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3260663 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature