In development, wound healing, and cancer metastasis, vertebrate cells move through 3D interstitial matrix, responding to chemical and physical guidance cues. Protrusion at the cell front has been extensively studied, but the retraction phase of the migration cycle is not well understood. Here, we show that fast-moving cells guided by matrix cues establish positive feedback control of rear retraction by sensing membrane tension. We reveal a mechanism of rear retraction in 3D matrix and durotaxis controlled by caveolae, which form in response to low membrane tension at the cell rear. Caveolae activate RhoA-ROCK1/PKN2 signaling via the RhoA guanidine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Ect2 to control local F-actin organization and contractility in this subcellular region and promote translocation of the cell rear. A positive feedback loop between cytoskeletal signaling and membrane tension leads to rapid retraction to complete the migration cycle in fast-moving cells, providing directional memory to drive persistent cell migration in complex matrices.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2019.09.006 | DOI Listing |
J Chem Inf Model
January 2025
Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of pore formation is crucial for elucidating fundamental biological processes and developing therapeutic strategies, such as the design of drug delivery systems and antimicrobial agents. Although experimental methods can provide valuable information, they often lack the temporal and spatial resolution necessary to fully capture the dynamic stages of pore formation. In this study, we present two novel collective variables (CVs) designed to characterize membrane pore behavior, particularly its energetics, through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
January 2025
Département de Génie Électrique, École de Technologie Supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada.
This study explored the influence of graphene oxide (GO) on morphological and mechanical properties of Nafion 115 membranes with the objective of enhancing the mechanical properties of the most widely employed membrane in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers (PEMWE) applications. The membrane surface was modified by ultrasonically spraying a GO solution and different annealing temperatures were tested. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) cross-sectional images revealed that annealing the composite membranes was sufficient to favor an interaction between the graphene oxide and the surface of the Nafion membranes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeerJ
January 2025
Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Background: Plasma membrane tension-related genes (MTRGs) are known to play a crucial role in tumor progression by influencing cell migration and adhesion. However, their specific mechanisms in bladder cancer (BLCA) remain unclear.
Methods: Transcriptomic, clinical and mutation data from BLCA patients were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases.
FASEB J
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, leading to pain and loss of joint function. Recent studies have demonstrated that omega-3 (ω3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation can decrease injury-induced OA progression in mice fed a high-fat diet. Furthermore, PUFAs have been shown to influence the mechanical properties of chondrocyte membranes, suggesting that alterations in mechanosensitive ion channel signaling could contribute to the mechanism by which ω3 PUFAs decreased OA pathogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomech Model Mechanobiol
January 2025
CNR Istituto Officina Dei Materiali, Area Science Park Basovizza, S.S. 14, Km 163,5, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
The organization and dynamics of the spectrin-actin membrane cytoskeleton play a crucial role in determining the mechanical properties of red blood cells (RBC). RBC are subjected to various forces that induce deformation during blood microcirculation. Such forces also regulate membrane tension, leading to Piezo1 channel activation, which is functionally linked to RBC dehydration through calcium influx and subsequent activation of Gardos channels, ultimately resulting in variations in RBC volume.
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