Image based modeling of bleb site selection

Abstract Cells often employ fast, pressure-driven blebs to move through tissues or against mechanical resistance, but how bleb sites are selected and directed to the cell front remains an open question. Previously, we found that chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells preferentially bleb from concave region...

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Main Authors: Sharon Collier, Peggy Paschke, Robert R. Kay, Till Bretschneider
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2017-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06875-9
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author Sharon Collier
Peggy Paschke
Robert R. Kay
Till Bretschneider
author_facet Sharon Collier
Peggy Paschke
Robert R. Kay
Till Bretschneider
author_sort Sharon Collier
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cells often employ fast, pressure-driven blebs to move through tissues or against mechanical resistance, but how bleb sites are selected and directed to the cell front remains an open question. Previously, we found that chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells preferentially bleb from concave regions, where membrane tension facilitates membrane-cortex detachment. Now, through a novel modeling approach based on actual cell contours, we use cell geometry to predict where blebs will form in migrating cells. We find that cell geometry alone, and by implication, physical forces in the membrane, is sufficient to predict the location of blebs in rounded cells moving in a highly resistive environment. The model is less successful with more polarized cells moving against less resistance, but can be greatly improved by positing a front-to-back gradient in membrane-cortex adhesion. In accord with this prediction, we find that Talin, which links membrane and cortex, forms such a front-to-back gradient. Thus our model provides a means of dissecting out the role of physical forces in controlling where blebs form, and shows that in certain circumstances they could be the major determining factor.
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spelling doaj.art-71ddb652264f426bbc129e1da08b70c62022-12-21T20:35:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-07-017111010.1038/s41598-017-06875-9Image based modeling of bleb site selectionSharon Collier0Peggy Paschke1Robert R. Kay2Till Bretschneider3MOAC Doctoral Training Centre, University of WarwickMedical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyMedical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyDepartment of Computer Science, University of WarwickAbstract Cells often employ fast, pressure-driven blebs to move through tissues or against mechanical resistance, but how bleb sites are selected and directed to the cell front remains an open question. Previously, we found that chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells preferentially bleb from concave regions, where membrane tension facilitates membrane-cortex detachment. Now, through a novel modeling approach based on actual cell contours, we use cell geometry to predict where blebs will form in migrating cells. We find that cell geometry alone, and by implication, physical forces in the membrane, is sufficient to predict the location of blebs in rounded cells moving in a highly resistive environment. The model is less successful with more polarized cells moving against less resistance, but can be greatly improved by positing a front-to-back gradient in membrane-cortex adhesion. In accord with this prediction, we find that Talin, which links membrane and cortex, forms such a front-to-back gradient. Thus our model provides a means of dissecting out the role of physical forces in controlling where blebs form, and shows that in certain circumstances they could be the major determining factor.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06875-9
spellingShingle Sharon Collier
Peggy Paschke
Robert R. Kay
Till Bretschneider
Image based modeling of bleb site selection
Scientific Reports
title Image based modeling of bleb site selection
title_full Image based modeling of bleb site selection
title_fullStr Image based modeling of bleb site selection
title_full_unstemmed Image based modeling of bleb site selection
title_short Image based modeling of bleb site selection
title_sort image based modeling of bleb site selection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06875-9
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AT peggypaschke imagebasedmodelingofblebsiteselection
AT robertrkay imagebasedmodelingofblebsiteselection
AT tillbretschneider imagebasedmodelingofblebsiteselection