scholarly journals Getting in shape and swimming: the role of cortical forces and membrane heterogeneity in eukaryotic cells

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Wu ◽  
Marco Avila Ponce de León ◽  
Hans G. Othmer
Keyword(s):  
Cell Movement ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
Bending Modulus ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
Cell Shapes ◽  
Direction Of Movement ◽  
Shape Changes

AbstractRecent research has shown that motile cells can adapt their mode of propulsion to the mechanical properties of the environment in which they find themselves – crawling in some environments while swimming in others. The latter can involve movement by blebbing or other cyclic shape changes, and both highly-simplified and more realistic models of these modes have been studied previously. Herein we study swimming that is driven by membrane tension gradients that arise from flows in the actin cortex underlying the membrane, and does not involve imposed cyclic shape changes. Such gradients can lead to a number of different characteristic cell shapes, and our first objective is to understand how different distributions of membrane tension influence the shape of cells in a quiescent fluid. We then analyze the effects of spatial variation in other membrane properties, and how they interact with tension gradients to determine the shape. We also study the effect of fluid-cell interactions and show how tension leads to cell movement, how the balance between tension gradients and a variable bending modulus determine the shape and direction of movement, and how the efficiency of movement depends on the properties of the fluid and the distribution of tension and bending modulus in the membrane.Dedicated to the memory of Karl P. Hadeler, a pioneer in the field of Mathematical Biology and a friend and mentor to many.

scholarly journals The erythrocyte membrane properties of beta thalassaemia heterozygotes and their consequences for Plasmodium falciparum invasion

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viola Introini ◽  
Alejandro Marin-Menendez ◽  
Guilherme Nettesheim ◽  
Yen-Chun Lin ◽  
Silvia N Kariuki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Malaria Prevalence ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Protective Properties ◽  
Beta Thalassaemia ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Bending Modulus ◽  
Surface Protein Expression

Malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum have exerted formidable selective pressures on the human genome. Of the human genetic variants associated with malaria protection, beta thalassaemia (a haemoglobinopathy) was the earliest to be associated with malaria prevalence. However, the malaria protective properties of beta thalassaemic erythrocytes remain unclear. Here we studied the mechanics and surface protein expression of beta thalassaemia heterozygous erythrocytes, measured their susceptibility to P. falciparum invasion, and calculated the energy required for merozoites to invade them. We found invasion-relevant differences in beta thalassaemic cells versus matched controls, specifically: elevated membrane tension, reduced bending modulus, and higher levels of expression of the major invasion receptor basigin. However, these differences acted in opposition to each other with respect to their likely impact on invasion, and overall we did not observe beta thalassaemic cells to have lower P. falciparum invasion efficiency for any of the strains tested.

scholarly journals A mechano-osmotic feedback couples cell volume to the rate of cell deformation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Venkova ◽  
Amit Singh Vishen ◽  
Sergio Lembo ◽  
Nishit Srivastava ◽  
Baptiste Duchamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Volume ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Cell Deformation ◽  
Volume Loss ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Cellular Physiology ◽  
Central Focus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
Shape Changes

Mechanics has been a central focus of physical biology in the past decade. In comparison, the osmotic and electric properties of cells are less understood. Here we show that a parameter central to both the physics and the physiology of the cell, its volume, depends on a mechano-osmotic coupling. We found that cells change their volume depending on the rate at which they change shape, when they spread, migrate or are externally deformed. Cells undergo slow deformation at constant volume, while fast deformation leads to volume loss. We propose a mechano-sensitive pump and leak model to explain this phenomenon. Our model and experiments suggest that volume modulation depends on the state of the actin cortex and the coupling of ion fluxes to membrane tension. This mechano-osmotic coupling defines a membrane tension homeostasis module constantly at work in cells, causing volume fluctuations associated with fast cell shape changes, with potential consequences on cellular physiology.

scholarly journals Exploring new roles for actin upon LTP induction in dendritic spines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayte Bonilla-Quintana ◽  
Florentin Wörgötter
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Spine Stabilization ◽  
Cell Processes

AbstractDendritic spines, small protrusions of the dendrites, enlarge upon LTP induction, linking morphological and functional properties. Although the role of actin in spine enlargement has been well studied, little is known about its relationship with mechanical membrane properties, such as membrane tension, which is involved in many cell processes, like exocytosis. Here, we use a 3D model of the dendritic spine to investigate how polymerization of actin filaments can effectively elevate the membrane tension to trigger exocytosis in a domain close to the tip of the spine. Moreover, we show that the same pool of actin promotes full membrane fusion after exocytosis and spine stabilization.

scholarly journals Exploring new roles for actin upon LTP induction in dendritic spines

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayte Bonilla-Quintana ◽  
Florentin Wörgötter
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Spine Stabilization ◽  
Cell Processes

AbstractDendritic spines, small protrusions of the dendrites, enlarge upon LTP induction, linking morphological and functional properties. Although the role of actin in spine enlargement has been well studied, little is known about its relationship with mechanical membrane properties, such as membrane tension, which is involved in many cell processes, like exocytosis. Here, we use a 3D model of the dendritic spine to investigate how polymerization of actin filaments can effectively elevate the membrane tension to trigger exocytosis in a domain close to the tip of the spine. Moreover, we show that the same pool of actin promotes full membrane fusion after exocytosis and spine stabilization.

scholarly journals Modeling membrane nanotube morphology: the role of heterogeneity in composition and material properties

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haleh Alimohamadi ◽  
Ben Ovryn ◽  
Padmini Rangamani
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Membrane Mechanics ◽  
Membrane Composition ◽  
Tube Radius ◽  
Cylindrical Tubes ◽  
Dynamic Structures ◽  
Protein Density ◽  
Membrane Protein Interaction

AbstractMembrane nanotubes have been identified as dynamic structures for cells to connect over long distances. Nanotubes typically appear as thin and cylindrical tubes, but they may also have a beaded architecture along the tube. In this paper, we study the role of membrane mechanics in governing the architecture of these tubes and show that the formation of beadlike structures along the nanotubes can result from local heterogeneities in the membrane either due to protein aggregation or due to membrane composition. We present numerical results that predict how membrane properties, protein density, and local tension compete to create a phase space that governs the morphology of a nanotube. We also find that there is an energy barrier that prevents two beads from fusing. These results suggest that the membrane-protein interaction, membrane composition, and membrane tension closely govern the tube radius, number of beads, and the bead morphology.

Current Study of RhoA and Associated Signaling Pathways in Gastric Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 607-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiping Liu ◽  
Yiqian Liu ◽  
Xiaochuan Zhang ◽  
Xiaodong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Cell Transformation ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Invasion And Metastasis ◽  
Common Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth-most common cancer in the world, with an estimated 1.034 million new cases in 2015, and the third-highest cause of cancer deaths, estimated at 785,558, in 2014. Early diagnosis and treatment greatly affect the survival rate in patients with GC: the 5‐year survival rate of early GC reaches 90%‐95%, while the mortality rate significantly increases if GC develops to the late stage. Recently, studies for the role of RhoA in the diseases have become a hot topic, especially in the development of tumors. A study found that RhoA can regulate actin polymerization, cell adhesion, motor-myosin, cell transformation, and the ability to participate in the activities of cell movement, proliferation, migration, which are closely related to the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. However, the specific role of RhoA in tumor cells remains to be studied. Therefore, our current study aimed to briefly review the role of RhoA in GC, especially for its associated signaling pathways involved in the GC progression.

scholarly journals Protocol to measure the membrane tension and bending modulus of cells using optical tweezers and scanning electron microscopy

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 100283
Author(s):  
Pedro Pompeu ◽  
Pedro S. Lourenço ◽  
Diney S. Ether ◽  
Juliana Soares ◽  
Jefte Farias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Optical Tweezers ◽  
Membrane Tension ◽  
Bending Modulus ◽  
Scanning Electron

scholarly journals Platelet Shape Changes during Thrombus Formation: Role of Actin-Based Protrusions

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (01) ◽  
pp. 014-021
Author(s):  
Markus Bender ◽  
Raghavendra Palankar
Keyword(s):  
Blood Loss ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Clot Retraction ◽  
Shape Changes ◽  
Platelet Shape

AbstractPlatelet activation and aggregation are essential to limit blood loss at sites of vascular injury but may also lead to occlusion of diseased vessels. The platelet cytoskeleton is a critical component for proper hemostatic function. Platelets change their shape after activation and their contractile machinery mediates thrombus stabilization and clot retraction. In vitro studies have shown that platelets, which come into contact with proteins such as fibrinogen, spread and first form filopodia and then lamellipodia, the latter being plate-like protrusions with branched actin filaments. However, the role of platelet lamellipodia in hemostasis and thrombus formation has been unclear until recently. This short review will briefly summarize the recent findings on the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton and lamellipodial structures to platelet function.

The Deformation of an Erythrocyte Under the Radiation Pressure by Optical Stretch

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 830-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Ping Liu ◽  
Chuan Li ◽  
Kuo-Kang Liu ◽  
Alvin C. K. Lai
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Pressure ◽  
Experimental Situation ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Shear Stiffness ◽  
Cell Deformation ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
Bending Modulus ◽  
Average Shear ◽  
Good Agreement

In this paper, the mechanical properties of erythrocytes were studied numerically based upon the mechanical model originally developed by Pamplona and Calladine (ASME J. Biomech. Eng., 115, p. 149, 1993) for liposomes. The case under study is the erythrocyte stretched by a pair of laser beams in opposite directions within buffer solutions. The study aims to elucidate the effect of radiation pressure from the optical laser because up to now little is known about its influence on the cell deformation. Following an earlier study by Guck et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., 84, p. 5451, 2000; Biophys. J., 81, p. 767, 2001), the empirical results of the radiation pressure were introduced and imposed on the cell surface to simulate the real experimental situation. In addition, an algorithm is specially designed to implement the simulation. For better understanding of the radiation pressure on the cell deformation, a large number of simulations were conducted for different properties of cell membrane. Results are first discussed parametrically and then evaluated by comparing with the experimental data reported by Guck et al. An optimization approach through minimizing the errors between experimental and numerical data is used to determine the optimal values of membrane properties. The results showed that an average shear stiffness around 4.611×10-6Nm−1, when the nondimensional ratio of shear modulus to bending modulus ranges from 10 to 300. These values are in a good agreement with those reported in literature.

scholarly journals Microtubule–microtubule sliding by kinesin-1 is essential for normal cytoplasmic streaming in Drosophila oocytes

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (34) ◽  
pp. E4995-E5004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Lu ◽  
Michael Winding ◽  
Margot Lakonishok ◽  
Jill Wildonger ◽  
Vladimir I. Gelfand
Keyword(s):  
Cytoplasmic Streaming ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Nurse Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
Microtubule Motor ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
Cytoplasmic Microtubules ◽  
Two Populations

Cytoplasmic streaming in Drosophila oocytes is a microtubule-based bulk cytoplasmic movement. Streaming efficiently circulates and localizes mRNAs and proteins deposited by the nurse cells across the oocyte. This movement is driven by kinesin-1, a major microtubule motor. Recently, we have shown that kinesin-1 heavy chain (KHC) can transport one microtubule on another microtubule, thus driving microtubule–microtubule sliding in multiple cell types. To study the role of microtubule sliding in oocyte cytoplasmic streaming, we used a Khc mutant that is deficient in microtubule sliding but able to transport a majority of cargoes. We demonstrated that streaming is reduced by genomic replacement of wild-type Khc with this sliding-deficient mutant. Streaming can be fully rescued by wild-type KHC and partially rescued by a chimeric motor that cannot move organelles but is active in microtubule sliding. Consistent with these data, we identified two populations of microtubules in fast-streaming oocytes: a network of stable microtubules anchored to the actin cortex and free cytoplasmic microtubules that moved in the ooplasm. We further demonstrated that the reduced streaming in sliding-deficient oocytes resulted in posterior determination defects. Together, we propose that kinesin-1 slides free cytoplasmic microtubules against cortically immobilized microtubules, generating forces that contribute to cytoplasmic streaming and are essential for the refinement of posterior determinants.

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