Balance between cell-substrate adhesion and myosin contraction determines the frequency of motility initiation in fish keratocytes.

ABSTRACT: Cells are dynamic systems capable of spontaneously switching among stable states. One striking example of this is spontaneous symmetry breaking and motility initiation in fish epithelial keratocytes. Although the biochemical and mechanical mechanisms that control steady-state migration in these cells have been well characterized, the mechanisms underlying symmetry breaking are less well understood. In this work, we have combined experimental manipulations of cell-substrate adhesion strength and myosin activity, traction force measurements, and mathematical modeling to develop a comprehensive mechanical model for symmetry breaking and motility initiation in fish epithelial keratocytes. Our results suggest that stochastic fluctuations in adhesion strength and myosin localization drive actin

SUBMITTER: Barnhart E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4413303 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature