Dynamical organization of the cytoskeletal cortex probed by micropipette aspiration

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jan Brugués - , ESPCI, University of Barcelona (Author)
  • Benoit Maugis - , Institut Curie, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) (Author)
  • Jaume Casademunt - , University of Barcelona (Author)
  • Pierre Nassoy - , Institut Curie, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) (Author)
  • François Amblard - , Institut Curie, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) (Author)
  • Pierre Sens - , ESPCI (Author)

Abstract

Bleb-based cell motility proceeds by the successive inflation and retraction of large spherical membrane protrusions ("blebs") coupled with substrate adhesion. In addition to their role in motility, cellular blebs constitute a remarkable illustration of the dynamical interactions between the cytoskeletal cortex and the plasma membrane. Here we study the bleb-based motions of Entamoeba histolytica in the constrained geometry of a micropipette. We construct a generic theoretical model that combines the polymerization of an actin cortex underneath the plasma membrane with the myosin-generated contractile stress in the cortex and the stress-induced failure of membrane-cortex adhesion. One major parameter dictating the cell response to micropipette suction is the stationary cortex thickness, controlled by actin polymerization and depolymerization. The other relevant physical parameters can be combined into two characteristic cortex thicknesses for which the myosin stress (i) balances the suction pressure and (ii) provokes membrane-cortex unbinding. We propose a general phase diagram for cell motions inside a micropipette by comparing these three thicknesses. In particular, we theoretically predict and experimentally verify the existence of saltatory and oscillatory motions for a well-defined range of micropipette suction pressures.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15415-15420
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume107
Issue number35
Publication statusPublished - 31 Aug 2010
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 20713731

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Cell motility, Contractility, Cytoskeleton