Theoretical analysis of membrane tension in moving cells.

ABSTRACT: Lateral tension in cell plasma membranes plays an essential role in regulation of a number of membrane-related intracellular processes and cell motion. Understanding the physical factors generating the lateral tension and quantitative determination of the tension distribution along the cell membrane is an emerging topic of cell biophysics. Although experimental data are accumulating on membrane tension values in several cell types, the tension distribution along the membranes of moving cells remains largely unexplored. Here we suggest and analyze a theoretical model predicting the tension distribution along the membrane of a cell crawling on a flat substrate. We consider the tension to be generated by the force of actin network polymerization against the membrane at the cell leading edge.

SUBMITTER: Schweitzer Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3907240 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature