Predictive assembling model reveals the self-adaptive elastic properties of lamellipodial actin networks for cell migration

Chen, Xindong, Zhu, Hanxing ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3209-6831, Feng, XiQiao, Li, Xiaona, Lu, Yongtao, Wang, Zuobin and Rezgui, Yacine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5711-8400 2020. Predictive assembling model reveals the self-adaptive elastic properties of lamellipodial actin networks for cell migration. Communications Biology 3 , 616. 10.1038/s42003-020-01335-z

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Abstract

Branched actin network supports cell migration through extracellular microenvironments. However, it is unknown how intracellular proteins adapt the elastic properties of the network to the highly varying extracellular resistance. Here we develop a three-dimensional assembling model to simulate the realistic self-assembling process of the network by encompassing intracellular proteins and their dynamic interactions. Combining this multiscale model with finite element method, we reveal that the network can not only sense the variation of extracellular resistance but also self-adapt its elastic properties through remodeling with intracellular proteins. Such resistance-adaptive elastic behaviours are versatile and essential in supporting cell migration through varying extracellular microenvironments. The bending deformation mechanism and anisotropic Poisson’s ratios determine why lamellipodia persistently evolve into sheet-like structures. Our predictions are confirmed by published experiments. The revealed self-adaptive elastic properties of the networks are also applicable to the endocytosis, phagocytosis, vesicle trafficking, intracellular pathogen transport and dendritic spine formation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Publisher:	Nature Research
ISSN:	2399-3642
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 October 2020
Date of Acceptance:	30 September 2020
Last Modified:	07 May 2023 02:56
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/135922

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