Pushing off the Walls: A Mechanism of Cell Motility in Confinement

R. J. Hawkins, M. Piel, G. Faure-Andre, A. M. Lennon-Dumenil, J. F. Joanny, J. Prost, and R. Voituriez
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 058103 – Published 5 February 2009

Abstract

We propose a novel mechanism of cell motility, which relies on the coupling of actin polymerization at the cell membrane to geometric confinement. We consider a polymerizing viscoelastic cytoskeletal gel confined in a narrow channel, and show analytically that spontaneous motion occurs. Interestingly, this does not require specific adhesion with the channel walls, and yields velocities potentially larger than the polymerization velocity. The contractile activity of myosin motors is not necessary to trigger motility in this mechanism, but is shown quantitatively to increase the velocity. Our model qualitatively accounts for recent experiments which show that cells without specific adhesion proteins are motile only in confined environments while they are unable to move on a flat surface, and could help in understanding the mechanisms of cell migration in more complex confined geometries such as living tissues.

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  • Received 18 September 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.058103

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. J. Hawkins1, M. Piel2, G. Faure-Andre3, A. M. Lennon-Dumenil3, J. F. Joanny4, J. Prost4,5, and R. Voituriez1

  • 1UMR 7600, Université Pierre et Marie Curie/CNRS, 4 Place Jussieu, 75255 Paris Cedex 05 France
  • 2UMR 144, Institut Curie/CNRS, 26 rue d’Ulm 75248 Paris Cedex 05 France
  • 3U 653, Inserm/Institut Curie, 26 rue d’Ulm 75248 Paris Cedex 05 France
  • 4UMR 168, Institut Curie/CNRS, 26 rue d’Ulm 75248 Paris Cedex 05 France
  • 5E.S.P.C.I, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 5 — 6 February 2009

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