1
|
Conboy JP, Istúriz Petitjean I, van der Net A, Koenderink GH. How cytoskeletal crosstalk makes cells move: Bridging cell-free and cell studies. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 5:021307. [PMID: 38840976 PMCID: PMC11151447 DOI: 10.1063/5.0198119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell migration is a fundamental process for life and is highly dependent on the dynamical and mechanical properties of the cytoskeleton. Intensive physical and biochemical crosstalk among actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments ensures their coordination to facilitate and enable migration. In this review, we discuss the different mechanical aspects that govern cell migration and provide, for each mechanical aspect, a novel perspective by juxtaposing two complementary approaches to the biophysical study of cytoskeletal crosstalk: live-cell studies (often referred to as top-down studies) and cell-free studies (often referred to as bottom-up studies). We summarize the main findings from both experimental approaches, and we provide our perspective on bridging the two perspectives to address the open questions of how cytoskeletal crosstalk governs cell migration and makes cells move.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James P. Conboy
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Irene Istúriz Petitjean
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk van der Net
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H. Koenderink
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jahnke K, Pavlovic M, Xu W, Chen A, Knowles TPJ, Arriaga LR, Weitz DA. Polysaccharide functionalization reduces lipid vesicle stiffness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317227121. [PMID: 38771870 PMCID: PMC11145274 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317227121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The biophysical properties of lipid vesicles are important for their stability and integrity, key parameters that control the performance when these vesicles are used for drug delivery. The vesicle properties are determined by the composition of lipids used to form the vesicle. However, for a given lipid composition, they can also be tailored by tethering polymers to the membrane. Typically, synthetic polymers like polyethyleneglycol are used to increase vesicle stability, but the use of polysaccharides in this context is much less explored. Here, we report a general method for functionalizing lipid vesicles with polysaccharides by binding them to cholesterol. We incorporate the polysaccharides on the outer membrane leaflet of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and investigate their effect on membrane mechanics using micropipette aspiration. We find that the presence of the glycolipid functionalization produces an unexpected softening of GUVs with fluid-like membranes. By contrast, the functionalization of GUVs with polyethylene glycol does not reduce their stretching modulus. This work provides the potential means to study membrane-bound meshworks of polysaccharides similar to the cellular glycocalyx; moreover, it can be used for tuning the mechanical properties of drug delivery vehicles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Jahnke
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Marko Pavlovic
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Wentao Xu
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Anqi Chen
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Laura R. Arriaga
- Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Condensed Matter Physics Center and Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - David A. Weitz
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ioannou IA, Brooks NJ, Kuimova MK, Elani Y. Visualizing Actin Packing and the Effects of Actin Attachment on Lipid Membrane Viscosity Using Molecular Rotors. JACS AU 2024; 4:2041-2049. [PMID: 38818078 PMCID: PMC11134356 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton and its elaborate interplay with the plasma membrane participate in and control numerous biological processes in eukaryotic cells. Malfunction of actin networks and changes in their dynamics are related to various diseases, from actin myopathies to uncontrolled cell growth and tumorigenesis. Importantly, the biophysical and mechanical properties of actin and its assemblies are deeply intertwined with the biological functions of the cytoskeleton. Novel tools to study actin and its associated biophysical features are, therefore, of prime importance. Here we develop a new approach which exploits fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and environmentally sensitive fluorophores termed molecular rotors, acting as quantitative microviscosity sensors, to monitor dynamic viscoelastic properties of both actin structures and lipid membranes. In order to reproduce a minimal actin cortex in synthetic cell models, we encapsulated and attached actin networks to the lipid bilayer of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Using a cyanine-based molecular rotor, DiSC2(3), we show that different types of actin bundles are characterized by distinct packing, which can be spatially resolved using FLIM. Similarly, we show that a lipid bilayer-localized molecular rotor can monitor the effects of attaching cross-linked actin networks to the lipid membrane, revealing an increase in membrane viscosity upon actin attachment. Our approach bypasses constraints associated with existing methods for actin imaging, many of which lack the capability for direct visualization of biophysical properties. It can therefore contribute to a deeper understanding of the role that actin plays in fundamental biological processes and help elucidate the underlying biophysics of actin-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ion A. Ioannou
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Nickolas J. Brooks
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
| | - Marina K. Kuimova
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sakamoto R, Murrell MP. F-actin architecture determines the conversion of chemical energy into mechanical work. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3444. [PMID: 38658549 PMCID: PMC11043346 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47593-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical work serves as the foundation for dynamic cellular processes, ranging from cell division to migration. A fundamental driver of cellular mechanical work is the actin cytoskeleton, composed of filamentous actin (F-actin) and myosin motors, where force generation relies on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. F-actin architectures, whether bundled by crosslinkers or branched via nucleators, have emerged as pivotal regulators of myosin II force generation. However, it remains unclear how distinct F-actin architectures impact the conversion of chemical energy to mechanical work. Here, we employ in vitro reconstitution of distinct F-actin architectures with purified components to investigate their influence on myosin ATP hydrolysis (consumption). We find that F-actin bundles composed of mixed polarity F-actin hinder network contraction compared to non-crosslinked network and dramatically decelerate ATP consumption rates. Conversely, linear-nucleated networks allow network contraction despite reducing ATP consumption rates. Surprisingly, branched-nucleated networks facilitate high ATP consumption without significant network contraction, suggesting that the branched network dissipates energy without performing work. This study establishes a link between F-actin architecture and myosin energy consumption, elucidating the energetic principles underlying F-actin structure formation and the performance of mechanical work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Sakamoto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 10 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael P Murrell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 10 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Systems Biology Institute, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Physics, Yale University, 217 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Van de Cauter L, van Buren L, Koenderink GH, Ganzinger KA. Exploring Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Production for Artificial Cells - Current Challenges and Future Directions. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300416. [PMID: 37464561 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Creating an artificial cell from the bottom up is a long-standing challenge and, while significant progress has been made, the full realization of this goal remains elusive. Arguably, one of the biggest hurdles that researchers are facing now is the assembly of different modules of cell function inside a single container. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have emerged as a suitable container with many methods available for their production. Well-studied swelling-based methods offer a wide range of lipid compositions but at the expense of limited encapsulation efficiency. Emulsion-based methods, on the other hand, excel at encapsulation but are only effective with a limited set of membrane compositions and may entrap residual additives in the lipid bilayer. Since the ultimate artificial cell will need to comply with both specific membrane and encapsulation requirements, there is still no one-method-fits-all solution for GUV formation available today. This review discusses the state of the art in different GUV production methods and their compatibility with GUV requirements and operational requirements such as reproducibility and ease of use. It concludes by identifying the most pressing issues and proposes potential avenues for future research to bring us one step closer to turning artificial cells into a reality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lori Van de Cauter
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands
| | - Lennard van Buren
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lopes Dos Santos R, Malo M, Campillo C. Spatial Control of Arp2/3-Induced Actin Polymerization on Phase-Separated Giant Unilamellar Vesicles. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3267-3274. [PMID: 37909673 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering the physical mechanisms underlying cell shape changes, while avoiding the cellular interior's complexity, involves the development of controlled basic biomimetic systems that imitate cell functions. In particular, the reconstruction of cytoskeletal dynamics on cell-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) has allowed for the reconstituting of some cell-like processes in vitro. In fact, such a bottom-up strategy could be the basis for forming protocells able to reorganize or even move autonomously. However, reconstituting the subtle and controlled dynamics of the cytoskeleton-membrane interface in vitro remains an experimental challenge. Taking advantage of the lipid-induced segregation of an actin polymerization activator, we present a system that targets actin polymerization in specific domains of phase-separated GUVs. We observe actin networks localized on Lo, Ld, or on both types of domains and the actin-induced deformation or reorganization of these domains. These results suggest that the system we have developed here could pave the way for future experiments further detailing the interplay between actin dynamics and membrane heterogeneities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rogério Lopes Dos Santos
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, CY Cergy Paris Université, CNRS, LAMBE, 91025 Evry, Courcouronnes, France
| | - Michel Malo
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, CY Cergy Paris Université, CNRS, LAMBE, 91025 Evry, Courcouronnes, France
| | - Clément Campillo
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, CY Cergy Paris Université, CNRS, LAMBE, 91025 Evry, Courcouronnes, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Colin A, Orhant-Prioux M, Guérin C, Savinov M, Cao W, Vianay B, Scarfone I, Roux A, De La Cruz EM, Mogilner A, Théry M, Blanchoin L. Friction patterns guide actin network contraction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300416120. [PMID: 37725653 PMCID: PMC10523593 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300416120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The shape of cells is the outcome of the balance of inner forces produced by the actomyosin network and the resistive forces produced by cell adhesion to their environment. The specific contributions of contractile, anchoring and friction forces to network deformation rate and orientation are difficult to disentangle in living cells where they influence each other. Here, we reconstituted contractile actomyosin networks in vitro to study specifically the role of the friction forces between the network and its anchoring substrate. To modulate the magnitude and spatial distribution of friction forces, we used glass or lipids surface micropatterning to control the initial shape of the network. We adapted the concentration of Nucleating Promoting Factor on each surface to induce the assembly of actin networks of similar densities and compare the deformation of the network toward the centroid of the pattern shape upon myosin-induced contraction. We found that actin network deformation was faster and more coordinated on lipid bilayers than on glass, showing the resistance of friction to network contraction. To further study the role of the spatial distribution of these friction forces, we designed heterogeneous micropatterns made of glass and lipids. The deformation upon contraction was no longer symmetric but biased toward the region of higher friction. Furthermore, we showed that the pattern of friction could robustly drive network contraction and dominate the contribution of asymmetric distributions of myosins. Therefore, we demonstrate that during contraction, both the active and resistive forces are essential to direct the actin network deformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Colin
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, UMR5168, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, CytoMorpho Lab, Grenoble38054, France
| | - Magali Orhant-Prioux
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, UMR5168, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, CytoMorpho Lab, Grenoble38054, France
| | - Christophe Guérin
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, UMR5168, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, CytoMorpho Lab, Grenoble38054, France
| | - Mariya Savinov
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY10012
| | - Wenxiang Cao
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520-8114
| | - Benoit Vianay
- University of Paris, INSERM, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, UMRS1160, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, CytoMorpho Lab, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris75010, France
| | - Ilaria Scarfone
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, UMR5168, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, CytoMorpho Lab, Grenoble38054, France
| | - Aurélien Roux
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1211Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Enrique M. De La Cruz
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520-8114
| | - Alex Mogilner
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY10012
| | - Manuel Théry
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, UMR5168, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, CytoMorpho Lab, Grenoble38054, France
- University of Paris, INSERM, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, UMRS1160, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, CytoMorpho Lab, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris75010, France
| | - Laurent Blanchoin
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, UMR5168, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, CytoMorpho Lab, Grenoble38054, France
- University of Paris, INSERM, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, UMRS1160, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, CytoMorpho Lab, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris75010, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sakamoto R, Maeda YT. Unveiling the physics underlying symmetry breaking of the actin cytoskeleton: An artificial cell-based approach. Biophys Physicobiol 2023; 20:e200032. [PMID: 38124798 PMCID: PMC10728624 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v20.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell behaviors cover many biological functions, such as cell division during morphogenesis and tissue metastasis, and cell migration during cancer cell invasion and immune cell responses. Symmetry breaking of the positioning of organelles and the cell shape are often associated with these biological functions. One of the main players in symmetry breaking at the cellular scale is the actin cytoskeleton, comprising actin filaments and myosin motors that generate contractile forces. However, because the self-organization of the actomyosin network is regulated by the biochemical signaling in cells, how the mechanical contraction of the actin cytoskeleton induces diverse self-organized behaviors and drives the cell-scale symmetry breaking remains unclear. In recent times, to understand the physical underpinnings of the symmetry breaking exhibited in the actin cytoskeleton, artificial cell models encapsulating the cytoplasmic actomyosin networks covered with lipid monolayers have been developed. By decoupling the actomyosin mechanics from the complex biochemical signaling within living cells, this system allows one to study the self-organization of actomyosin networks confined in cell-sized spaces. We review the recent developments in the physics of confined actomyosin networks and provide future perspectives on the artificial cell-based approach. This review article is an extended version of the Japanese article, The Physical Principle of Cell Migration Under Confinement: Artificial Cell-based Bottom-up Approach, published in SEIBUTSU BUTSURI Vol. 63, p. 163-164 (2023).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Sakamoto
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, Connecticut 06516, USA
| | - Yusuke T. Maeda
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin AJ, Sihorwala AZ, Belardi B. Engineering Tissue-Scale Properties with Synthetic Cells: Forging One from Many. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1889-1907. [PMID: 37417657 PMCID: PMC11017731 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
In metazoans, living cells achieve capabilities beyond individual cell functionality by assembling into multicellular tissue structures. These higher-order structures represent dynamic, heterogeneous, and responsive systems that have evolved to regenerate and coordinate their actions over large distances. Recent advances in constructing micrometer-sized vesicles, or synthetic cells, now point to a future where construction of synthetic tissue can be pursued, a boon to pressing material needs in biomedical implants, drug delivery systems, adhesives, filters, and storage devices, among others. To fully realize the potential of synthetic tissue, inspiration has been and will continue to be drawn from new molecular findings on its natural counterpart. In this review, we describe advances in introducing tissue-scale features into synthetic cell assemblies. Beyond mere complexation, synthetic cells have been fashioned with a variety of natural and engineered molecular components that serve as initial steps toward morphological control and patterning, intercellular communication, replication, and responsiveness in synthetic tissue. Particular attention has been paid to the dynamics, spatial constraints, and mechanical strengths of interactions that drive the synthesis of this next-generation material, describing how multiple synthetic cells can act as one.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Ahmed Z Sihorwala
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Brian Belardi
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sakamoto R, Banerjee DS, Yadav V, Chen S, Gardel M, Sykes C, Banerjee S, Murrell MP. Membrane tension induces F-actin reorganization and flow in a biomimetic model cortex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:325. [PMID: 36973388 PMCID: PMC10043271 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04684-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe accumulation and transmission of mechanical stresses in the cell cortex and membrane determines the mechanics of cell shape and coordinates essential physical behaviors, from cell polarization to cell migration. However, the extent that the membrane and cytoskeleton each contribute to the transmission of mechanical stresses to coordinate diverse behaviors is unclear. Here, we reconstitute a minimal model of the actomyosin cortex within liposomes that adheres, spreads and ultimately ruptures on a surface. During spreading, accumulated adhesion-induced (passive) stresses within the membrane drive changes in the spatial assembly of actin. By contrast, during rupture, accumulated myosin-induced (active) stresses within the cortex determine the rate of pore opening. Thus, in the same system, devoid of biochemical regulation, the membrane and cortex can each play a passive or active role in the generation and transmission of mechanical stress, and their relative roles drive diverse biomimetic physical behaviors.
Collapse
|
11
|
Liebe NL, Mey I, Vuong L, Shikho F, Geil B, Janshoff A, Steinem C. Bioinspired Membrane Interfaces: Controlling Actomyosin Architecture and Contractility. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:11586-11598. [PMID: 36848241 PMCID: PMC9999349 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The creation of biologically inspired artificial lipid bilayers on planar supports provides a unique platform to study membrane-confined processes in a well-controlled setting. At the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, the linkage of the filamentous (F)-actin network is of pivotal importance leading to cell-specific and dynamic F-actin architectures, which are essential for the cell's shape, mechanical resilience, and biological function. These networks are established through the coordinated action of diverse actin-binding proteins and the presence of the plasma membrane. Here, we established phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns[4,5]P2)-doped supported planar lipid bilayers to which contractile actomyosin networks were bound via the membrane-actin linker ezrin. This membrane system, amenable to high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, enabled us to analyze the connectivity and contractility of the actomyosin network. We found that the network architecture and dynamics are not only a function of the PtdIns[4,5]P2 concentration but also depend on the presence of negatively charged phosphatidylserine (PS). PS drives the attached network into a regime, where low but physiologically relevant connectivity to the membrane results in strong contractility of the actomyosin network, emphasizing the importance of the lipid composition of the membrane interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nils L. Liebe
- Institut
für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Georg-August Universität, Tammannstr. 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Ingo Mey
- Institut
für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Georg-August Universität, Tammannstr. 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Loan Vuong
- Institut
für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Georg-August Universität, Tammannstr. 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Fadi Shikho
- Institut
für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Georg-August Universität, Tammannstr. 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Burkhard Geil
- Institut
für Physikalische Chemie, Georg-August
Universität, Tammannstr. 6, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Andreas Janshoff
- Institut
für Physikalische Chemie, Georg-August
Universität, Tammannstr. 6, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Claudia Steinem
- Institut
für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Georg-August Universität, Tammannstr. 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institut
für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation, Am Fassberg 17, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Baldauf L, Frey F, Arribas Perez M, Idema T, Koenderink GH. Branched actin cortices reconstituted in vesicles sense membrane curvature. Biophys J 2023:S0006-3495(23)00124-8. [PMID: 36806830 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The actin cortex is a complex cytoskeletal machinery that drives and responds to changes in cell shape. It must generate or adapt to plasma membrane curvature to facilitate diverse functions such as cell division, migration, and phagocytosis. Due to the complex molecular makeup of the actin cortex, it remains unclear whether actin networks are inherently able to sense and generate membrane curvature, or whether they rely on their diverse binding partners to accomplish this. Here, we show that curvature sensing is an inherent capability of branched actin networks nucleated by Arp2/3 and VCA. We develop a robust method to encapsulate actin inside giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and assemble an actin cortex at the inner surface of the GUV membrane. We show that actin forms a uniform and thin cortical layer when present at high concentration and distinct patches associated with negative membrane curvature at low concentration. Serendipitously, we find that the GUV production method also produces dumbbell-shaped GUVs, which we explain using mathematical modeling in terms of membrane hemifusion of nested GUVs. We find that branched actin networks preferentially assemble at the neck of the dumbbells, which possess a micrometer-range convex curvature comparable with the curvature of the actin patches found in spherical GUVs. Minimal branched actin networks can thus sense membrane curvature, which may help mammalian cells to robustly recruit actin to curved membranes to facilitate diverse cellular functions such as cytokinesis and migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Baldauf
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Felix Frey
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Marcos Arribas Perez
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Timon Idema
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Aufderhorst-Roberts A, Staykova M. Scratching beyond the surface - minimal actin assemblies as tools to elucidate mechanical reinforcement and shape change. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:ETLS20220052. [PMID: 36541184 PMCID: PMC9788373 DOI: 10.1042/etls20220052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between the actin cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells is integral to a large number of functions such as shape change, mechanical reinforcement and contraction. These phenomena are driven by the architectural regulation of a thin actin network, directly beneath the membrane through interactions with a variety of binding proteins, membrane anchoring proteins and molecular motors. An increasingly common approach to understanding the mechanisms that drive these processes is to build model systems from reconstituted lipids, actin filaments and associated actin-binding proteins. Here we review recent progress in this field, with a particular emphasis on how the actin cytoskeleton provides mechanical reinforcement, drives shape change and induces contraction. Finally, we discuss potential future developments in the field, which would allow the extension of these techniques to more complex cellular processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Margarita Staykova
- Centre for Materials Physics, Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lopes dos Santos R, Campillo C. Studying actin-induced cell shape changes using Giant Unilamellar Vesicles and reconstituted actin networks. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1527-1539. [PMID: 36111807 PMCID: PMC9704537 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Cell shape changes that are fuelled by the dynamics of the actomyosin cytoskeleton control cellular processes such as motility and division. However, the mechanisms of interplay between cell membranes and actomyosin are complicated to decipher in the complex environment of the cytoplasm. Using biomimetic systems offers an alternative approach to studying cell shape changes in assays with controlled biochemical composition. Biomimetic systems allow quantitative experiments that can help to build physical models describing the processes of cell shape changes. This article reviews works in which actin networks are reconstructed inside or outside cell-sized Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs), which are models of cell membranes. We show how various actin networks affect the shape and mechanics of GUVs and how some cell shape changes can be reproduced in vitro using these minimal systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rogério Lopes dos Santos
- LAMBE, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, CNRS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91025 Evry-Courcouronnes, France
| | - Clément Campillo
- LAMBE, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, CNRS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91025 Evry-Courcouronnes, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
One of the major challenges of bottom-up synthetic biology is rebuilding a minimal cell division machinery. From a reconstitution perspective, the animal cell division apparatus is mechanically the simplest and therefore attractive to rebuild. An actin-based ring produces contractile force to constrict the membrane. By contrast, microbes and plant cells have a cell wall, so division requires concerted membrane constriction and cell wall synthesis. Furthermore, reconstitution of the actin division machinery helps in understanding the physical and molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis in animal cells and thus our own cells. In this review, we describe the state-of-the-art research on reconstitution of minimal actin-mediated cytokinetic machineries. Based on the conceptual requirements that we obtained from the physics of the shape changes involved in cell division, we propose two major routes for building a minimal actin apparatus capable of division. Importantly, we acknowledge both the passive and active roles that the confining lipid membrane can play in synthetic cytokinesis. We conclude this review by identifying the most pressing challenges for future reconstitution work, thereby laying out a roadmap for building a synthetic cell equipped with a minimal actin division machinery.
Collapse
|
16
|
Bashirzadeh Y, Moghimianavval H, Liu AP. Encapsulated actomyosin patterns drive cell-like membrane shape changes. iScience 2022; 25:104236. [PMID: 35521522 PMCID: PMC9061794 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell shape changes from locomotion to cytokinesis are, to a large extent, driven by myosin-driven remodeling of cortical actin patterns. Passive crosslinkers such as α-actinin and fascin as well as actin nucleator Arp2/3 complex largely determine actin network architecture and, consequently, membrane shape changes. Here we reconstitute actomyosin networks inside cell-sized lipid bilayer vesicles and show that depending on vesicle size and concentrations of α-actinin and fascin actomyosin networks assemble into ring and aster-like patterns. Anchoring actin to the membrane does not change actin network architecture yet exerts forces and deforms the membrane when assembled in the form of a contractile ring. In the presence of α-actinin and fascin, an Arp2/3 complex-mediated actomyosin cortex is shown to assemble a ring-like pattern at the equatorial cortex followed by myosin-driven clustering and consequently blebbing. An active gel theory unifies a model for the observed membrane shape changes induced by the contractile cortex. Myosin, α-actinin, and fascin drive the formation of diverse actin patterns in GUVs A self-assembling membrane-bound contractile ring pattern slightly deforms GUVs Dendritic actomyosin requires actin crosslinkers for clustering and GUV blebbing A physical model describes membrane deformation at the site of actomyosin cluster
Collapse
|
17
|
Hernández-Del-Valle M, Valencia-Expósito A, López-Izquierdo A, Casanova-Ferrer P, Tarazona P, Martín-Bermudo MD, Míguez DG. A coarse-grained approach to model the dynamics of the actomyosin cortex. BMC Biol 2022; 20:90. [PMID: 35459165 PMCID: PMC9034637 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The dynamics of the actomyosin machinery is at the core of many important biological processes. Several relevant cellular responses such as the rhythmic compression of the cell cortex are governed, at a mesoscopic level, by the nonlinear interaction between actin monomers, actin crosslinkers, and myosin motors. Coarse-grained models are an optimal tool to study actomyosin systems, since they can include processes that occur at long time and space scales, while maintaining the most relevant features of the molecular interactions. Results Here, we present a coarse-grained model of a two-dimensional actomyosin cortex, adjacent to a three-dimensional cytoplasm. Our simplified model incorporates only well-characterized interactions between actin monomers, actin crosslinkers and myosin, and it is able to reproduce many of the most important aspects of actin filament and actomyosin network formation, such as dynamics of polymerization and depolymerization, treadmilling, network formation, and the autonomous oscillatory dynamics of actomyosin. Conclusions We believe that the present model can be used to study the in vivo response of actomyosin networks to changes in key parameters of the system, such as alterations in the attachment of actin filaments to the cell cortex. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1186/s12915-022-01279-2).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Hernández-Del-Valle
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,IFIMAC, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Andrea Valencia-Expósito
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC/JA, Carretera de Utrera km 1, Seville, 41013, Spain
| | - Antonio López-Izquierdo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,IFIMAC, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Pau Casanova-Ferrer
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,IFIMAC, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Pedro Tarazona
- IFIMAC, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Fisica Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Maria D Martín-Bermudo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC/JA, Carretera de Utrera km 1, Seville, 41013, Spain
| | - David G Míguez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain. .,IFIMAC, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain. .,Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain. .,Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Fac. de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ghosh S, Gutti S, Chaudhuri D. Pattern formation, localized and running pulsation on active spherical membranes. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:10614-10627. [PMID: 34605510 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00937k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Active force generation by an actin-myosin cortex coupled to a cell membrane allows the cell to deform, respond to the environment, and mediate cell motility and division. Several membrane-bound activator proteins move along it and couple to the membrane curvature. Besides, they can act as nucleating sites for the growth of filamentous actin. Actin polymerization can generate a local outward push on the membrane. Inward pull from the contractile actomyosin cortex can propagate along the membrane via actin filaments. We use coupled evolution of fields to perform linear stability analysis and numerical calculations. As activity overcomes the stabilizing factors such as surface tension and bending rigidity, the spherical membrane shows instability towards pattern formation, localized pulsation, and running pulsation between poles. We present our results in terms of phase diagrams and evolutions of the coupled fields. They have relevance for living cells and can be verified in experiments on artificial cell-like constructs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subhadip Ghosh
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Bijenička cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Sashideep Gutti
- BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad 500078, Telengana, India.
| | - Debasish Chaudhuri
- Institute of Physics, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar 751005, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Bashirzadeh Y, Redford SA, Lorpaiboon C, Groaz A, Moghimianavval H, Litschel T, Schwille P, Hocky GM, Dinner AR, Liu AP. Actin crosslinker competition and sorting drive emergent GUV size-dependent actin network architecture. Commun Biol 2021. [PMID: 34584211 DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.03.322354v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteins that make up the actin cytoskeleton can self-assemble into a variety of structures. In vitro experiments and coarse-grained simulations have shown that the actin crosslinking proteins α-actinin and fascin segregate into distinct domains in single actin bundles with a molecular size-dependent competition-based mechanism. Here, by encapsulating actin, α-actinin, and fascin in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we show that physical confinement can cause these proteins to form much more complex structures, including rings and asters at GUV peripheries and centers; the prevalence of different structures depends on GUV size. Strikingly, we found that α-actinin and fascin self-sort into separate domains in the aster structures with actin bundles whose apparent stiffness depends on the ratio of the relative concentrations of α-actinin and fascin. The observed boundary-imposed effect on protein sorting may be a general mechanism for creating emergent structures in biopolymer networks with multiple crosslinkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Steven A Redford
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- The graduate program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Alessandro Groaz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Thomas Litschel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Glen M Hocky
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Aaron R Dinner
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bashirzadeh Y, Redford SA, Lorpaiboon C, Groaz A, Moghimianavval H, Litschel T, Schwille P, Hocky GM, Dinner AR, Liu AP. Actin crosslinker competition and sorting drive emergent GUV size-dependent actin network architecture. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1136. [PMID: 34584211 PMCID: PMC8478941 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteins that make up the actin cytoskeleton can self-assemble into a variety of structures. In vitro experiments and coarse-grained simulations have shown that the actin crosslinking proteins α-actinin and fascin segregate into distinct domains in single actin bundles with a molecular size-dependent competition-based mechanism. Here, by encapsulating actin, α-actinin, and fascin in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we show that physical confinement can cause these proteins to form much more complex structures, including rings and asters at GUV peripheries and centers; the prevalence of different structures depends on GUV size. Strikingly, we found that α-actinin and fascin self-sort into separate domains in the aster structures with actin bundles whose apparent stiffness depends on the ratio of the relative concentrations of α-actinin and fascin. The observed boundary-imposed effect on protein sorting may be a general mechanism for creating emergent structures in biopolymer networks with multiple crosslinkers. By encapsulating proteins in giant unilamellar vesicles, Bashirzadeh et al find that actin crosslinkers, α-actinin and fascin, can self-assemble with actin into complex structures that depend on the degree of confinement. Further analysis and modeling show that α-actinin and fascin sort to separate domains of these structures. These insights may be generalizable to other biopolymer networks containing crosslinkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Steven A Redford
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.,The graduate program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Alessandro Groaz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Thomas Litschel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Glen M Hocky
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Aaron R Dinner
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Litschel T, Kelley CF, Holz D, Adeli Koudehi M, Vogel SK, Burbaum L, Mizuno N, Vavylonis D, Schwille P. Reconstitution of contractile actomyosin rings in vesicles. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2254. [PMID: 33859190 PMCID: PMC8050101 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the grand challenges of bottom-up synthetic biology is the development of minimal machineries for cell division. The mechanical transformation of large-scale compartments, such as Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs), requires the geometry-specific coordination of active elements, several orders of magnitude larger than the molecular scale. Of all cytoskeletal structures, large-scale actomyosin rings appear to be the most promising cellular elements to accomplish this task. Here, we have adopted advanced encapsulation methods to study bundled actin filaments in GUVs and compare our results with theoretical modeling. By changing few key parameters, actin polymerization can be differentiated to resemble various types of networks in living cells. Importantly, we find membrane binding to be crucial for the robust condensation into a single actin ring in spherical vesicles, as predicted by theoretical considerations. Upon force generation by ATP-driven myosin motors, these ring-like actin structures contract and locally constrict the vesicle, forming furrow-like deformations. On the other hand, cortex-like actin networks are shown to induce and stabilize deformations from spherical shapes. Cytoskeletal networks support and direct cell shape and guide intercellular transport, but relatively little is understood about the self-organization of cytoskeletal components on the scale of an entire cell. Here, authors use an in vitro system and observe the assembly of different types of actin networks and the condensation of membrane-bound actin into single rings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Litschel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Charlotte F Kelley
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Danielle Holz
- Department of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | | | - Sven K Vogel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Laura Burbaum
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Naoko Mizuno
- Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have gained great popularity as mimicries for cellular membranes. As their sizes are comfortably above the optical resolution limit, and their lipid composition is easily controlled, they are ideal for quantitative light microscopic investigation of dynamic processes in and on membranes. However, reconstitution of functional proteins into the lumen or the GUV membrane itself has proven technically challenging. In recent years, a selection of techniques has been introduced that tremendously improve GUV-assay development and enable the precise investigation of protein-membrane interactions under well-controlled conditions. Moreover, due to these methodological advances, GUVs are considered important candidates as protocells in bottom-up synthetic biology. In this review, we discuss the state of the art of the most important vesicle production and protein encapsulation methods and highlight some key protein systems whose functional reconstitution has advanced the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Litschel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany; ,
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany; ,
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
In Vitro Reconstitution of Dynamic Co-organization of Microtubules and Actin Filaments in Emulsion Droplets. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 31879898 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0219-5_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
In vitro (or cell-free) reconstitution is a powerful tool to study the physical basis of cytoskeletal organization in eukaryotic cells. Cytoskeletal reconstitution studies have mostly been done for individual cytoskeleton systems in unconfined 3D or quasi-2D geometries, which lack complexity relative to a cellular environment. To increase the level of complexity, we present a method to study co-organization of two cytoskeletal components, namely microtubules and actin filaments, confined in cell-sized water-in-oil emulsion droplets. We show that centrosome-nucleated dynamic microtubules can be made to interact with actin filaments through a tip-tracking complex consisting of microtubule end-binding proteins and an actin-microtubule cytolinker. In addition to the protocols themselves, we discuss the optimization steps required in order to build these more complex in vitro model systems of cytoskeletal interactions.
Collapse
|
24
|
Wang C, Piao J, Li Y, Tian X, Dong Y, Liu D. Construction of Liposomes Mimicking Cell Membrane Structure through Frame‐Guided Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202005334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Jiafang Piao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Yujie Li
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Xiancheng Tian
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yuanchen Dong
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Wang C, Piao J, Li Y, Tian X, Dong Y, Liu D. Construction of Liposomes Mimicking Cell Membrane Structure through Frame‐Guided Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:15176-15180. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202005334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Jiafang Piao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Yujie Li
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Xiancheng Tian
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yuanchen Dong
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education Department of Chemistry Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
The cell-free molecular synthesis of biochemical systems is a rapidly growing field of research. Advances in the Human Genome Project, DNA synthesis, and other technologies have allowed the in vitro construction of biochemical systems, termed cell-free biology, to emerge as an exciting domain of bioengineering. Cell-free biology ranges from the molecular to the cell-population scales, using an ever-expanding variety of experimental platforms and toolboxes. In this review, we discuss the ongoing efforts undertaken in the three major classes of cell-free biology methodologies, namely protein-based, nucleic acids–based, and cell-free transcription–translation systems, and provide our perspectives on the current challenges as well as the major goals in each of the subfields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, and the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Jia H, Schwille P. Bottom-up synthetic biology: reconstitution in space and time. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 60:179-187. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
|
28
|
Mietke A, Jemseena V, Kumar KV, Sbalzarini IF, Jülicher F. Minimal Model of Cellular Symmetry Breaking. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:188101. [PMID: 31763902 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.188101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The cell cortex, a thin film of active material assembled below the cell membrane, plays a key role in cellular symmetry-breaking processes such as cell polarity establishment and cell division. Here, we present a minimal model of the self-organization of the cell cortex that is based on a hydrodynamic theory of curved active surfaces. Active stresses on this surface are regulated by a diffusing molecular species. We show that coupling of the active surface to a passive bulk fluid enables spontaneous polarization and the formation of a contractile ring on the surface via mechanochemical instabilities. We discuss the role of external fields in guiding such pattern formation. Our work reveals that key features of cellular symmetry breaking and cell division can emerge in a minimal model via general dynamic instabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Mietke
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Chair of Scientific Computing for Systems Biology, Faculty of Computer Science, TU Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - V Jemseena
- International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 560 089 Bengaluru, India
| | - K Vijay Kumar
- International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 560 089 Bengaluru, India
| | - Ivo F Sbalzarini
- Chair of Scientific Computing for Systems Biology, Faculty of Computer Science, TU Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Jülicher
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bashirzadeh Y, Liu AP. Encapsulation of the cytoskeleton: towards mimicking the mechanics of a cell. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:8425-8436. [PMID: 31621750 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01669d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton of a cell controls all the aspects of cell shape changes and motility from its physiological functions for survival to reproduction to death. The structure and dynamics of the cytoskeletal components: actin, microtubules, intermediate filaments, and septins - recently regarded as the fourth member of the cytoskeleton family - are conserved during evolution. Such conserved and effective control over the mechanics of the cell makes the cytoskeletal components great candidates for in vitro reconstitution and bottom-up synthetic biology studies. Here, we review the recent efforts in reconstitution of the cytoskeleton in and on membrane-enclosed biomimetic systems and argue that co-reconstitution and synergistic interplay between cytoskeletal filaments might be indispensable for efficient mechanical functionality of active minimal cells. Further, mechanical equilibrium in adherent eukaryotic cells is achieved by the formation of integrin-based focal contacts with extracellular matrix (ECM) and the transmission of stresses generated by actomyosin contraction to ECM. Therefore, a minimal mimic of such balance of forces and quasi-static kinetics of the cell by bottom-up reconstitution requires a careful construction of contractile machineries and their link with adhesive contacts. In this review, in addition to cytoskeletal crosstalk, we provide a perspective on reconstruction of cell mechanical equilibrium by reconstitution of cortical actomyosin networks in lipid membrane vesicles adhered on compliant substrates and also discuss future perspectives of this active research area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Biological active matter aggregates: Inspiration for smart colloidal materials. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 263:38-51. [PMID: 30504078 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Aggregations of social organisms exhibit a remarkable range of properties and functionalities. Multiple examples, such as fire ants or slime mold, show how a population of individuals is able to overcome an existential threat by gathering into a solid-like aggregate with emergent functionality. Surprisingly, these aggregates are driven by simple rules, and their mechanisms show great parallelism among species. At the same time, great effort has been made by the scientific community to develop active colloidal materials, such as microbubbles or Janus particles, which exhibit similar behaviors. However, a direct connection between these two realms is still not evident, and it would greatly benefit future studies. In this review, we first discuss the current understanding of living aggregates, point out the mechanisms in their formation and explore the vast range of emergent properties. Second, we review the current knowledge in aggregated colloidal systems, the methods used to achieve the aggregations and their potential functionalities. Based on this knowledge, we finally identify a set of over-arching principles commonly found in biological aggregations, and further suggest potential future directions for the creation of bio-inspired colloid aggregations.
Collapse
|
31
|
Sonal, Ganzinger KA, Vogel SK, Mücksch J, Blumhardt P, Schwille P. Myosin-II activity generates a dynamic steady state with continuous actin turnover in a minimal actin cortex. J Cell Sci 2018; 132:jcs.219899. [PMID: 30538127 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.219899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic reorganization of the actomyosin cytoskeleton allows fast modulation of the cell surface, which is vital for many cellular functions. Myosin-II motors generate the forces required for this remodeling by imparting contractility to actin networks. However, myosin-II activity might also have a more indirect contribution to cytoskeletal dynamics; it has been proposed that myosin activity increases actin turnover in various cellular contexts, presumably by enhancing disassembly. In vitro reconstitution of actomyosin networks has confirmed the role of myosin in actin network disassembly, but the reassembly of actin in these assays was limited by factors such as diffusional constraints and the use of stabilized actin filaments. Here, we present the reconstitution of a minimal dynamic actin cortex, where actin polymerization is catalyzed on the membrane in the presence of myosin-II activity. We demonstrate that myosin activity leads to disassembly and redistribution in this simplified cortex. Consequently, a new dynamic steady state emerges in which the actin network undergoes constant turnover. Our findings suggest a multifaceted role of myosin-II in the dynamics of the eukaryotic actin cortex. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonal
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Sven K Vogel
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jonas Mücksch
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Petra Schwille
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
The pulmonary endothelial cell forms a critical semi-permeable barrier between the vascular and interstitial space. As part of the blood-gas barrier in the lung, the endothelium plays a key role in normal physiologic function and pathologic disease. Changes in endothelial cell shape, defined by its plasma membrane, determine barrier integrity. A number of key cytoskeletal regulatory and effector proteins including non-muscle myosin light chain kinase, cortactin, and Arp 2/3 mediate actin rearrangements to form cortical and membrane associated structures in response to barrier enhancing stimuli. These actin formations support and interact with junctional complexes and exert forces to protrude the lipid membrane to and close gaps between individual cells. The current knowledge of these cytoskeletal processes and regulatory proteins are the subject of this review. In addition, we explore novel advancements in cellular imaging that are poised to shed light on the complex nature of pulmonary endothelial permeability.
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
Precisely controlled cell deformations are key to cell migration, division and tissue morphogenesis, and have been implicated in cell differentiation during development, as well as cancer progression. In animal cells, shape changes are primarily driven by the cellular cortex, a thin actomyosin network that lies directly underneath the plasma membrane. Myosin-generated forces create tension in the cortical network, and gradients in tension lead to cellular deformations. Recent studies have provided important insight into the molecular control of cortical tension by progressively unveiling cortex composition and organization. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we review our current understanding of cortex composition and architecture. We then discuss how the microscopic properties of the cortex control cortical tension. While many open questions remain, it is now clear that cortical tension can be modulated through both cortex composition and organization, providing multiple levels of regulation for this key cellular property during cell and tissue morphogenesis. Summary: A summary of the composition, architecture, mechanics and function of the cellular actin cortex, which determines the shape of animal cells, and, thus, provides the foundation for cell and tissue morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyamvada Chugh
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK .,Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Ewa K Paluch
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK .,Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.,Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Othmer HG. Eukaryotic Cell Dynamics from Crawlers to Swimmers. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2018; 9. [PMID: 30854030 DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Movement requires force transmission to the environment, and motile cells are robustly, though not elegantly, designed nanomachines that often can cope with a variety of environmental conditions by altering the mode of force transmission used. As with humans, the available modes range from momentary attachment to a substrate when crawling, to shape deformations when swimming, and at the cellular level this involves sensing the mechanical properties of the environment and altering the mode appropriately. While many types of cells can adapt their mode of movement to their microenvironment (ME), our understanding of how they detect, transduce and process information from the ME to determine the optimal mode is still rudimentary. The shape and integrity of a cell is determined by its cytoskeleton (CSK), and thus the shape changes that may be required to move involve controlled remodeling of the CSK. Motion in vivo is often in response to extracellular signals, which requires the ability to detect such signals and transduce them into the shape changes and force generation needed for movement. Thus the nanomachine is complex, and while much is known about individual components involved in movement, an integrated understanding of motility in even simple cells such as bacteria is not at hand. In this review we discuss recent advances in our understanding of cell motility and some of the problems remaining to be solved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H G Othmer
- School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Tailoring the appearance: what will synthetic cells look like? Curr Opin Biotechnol 2018; 51:47-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
36
|
Photosynthetic artificial organelles sustain and control ATP-dependent reactions in a protocellular system. Nat Biotechnol 2018; 36:530-535. [PMID: 29806849 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.4140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Inside cells, complex metabolic reactions are distributed across the modular compartments of organelles. Reactions in organelles have been recapitulated in vitro by reconstituting functional protein machineries into membrane systems. However, maintaining and controlling these reactions is challenging. Here we designed, built, and tested a switchable, light-harvesting organelle that provides both a sustainable energy source and a means of directing intravesicular reactions. An ATP (ATP) synthase and two photoconverters (plant-derived photosystem II and bacteria-derived proteorhodopsin) enable ATP synthesis. Independent optical activation of the two photoconverters allows dynamic control of ATP synthesis: red light facilitates and green light impedes ATP synthesis. We encapsulated the photosynthetic organelles in a giant vesicle to form a protocellular system and demonstrated optical control of two ATP-dependent reactions, carbon fixation and actin polymerization, with the latter altering outer vesicle morphology. Switchable photosynthetic organelles may enable the development of biomimetic vesicle systems with regulatory networks that exhibit homeostasis and complex cellular behaviors.
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
How do the cells in our body reconfigure their shape to achieve complex tasks like migration and mitosis, yet maintain their shape in response to forces exerted by, for instance, blood flow and muscle action? Cell shape control is defined by a delicate mechanical balance between active force generation and passive material properties of the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton forms a space-spanning fibrous network comprising three subsystems: actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments. Bottom-up reconstitution of minimal synthetic cells where these cytoskeletal subsystems are encapsulated inside a lipid vesicle provides a powerful avenue to dissect the force balance that governs cell shape control. Although encapsulation is technically demanding, a steady stream of advances in this technique has made the reconstitution of shape-changing minimal cells increasingly feasible. In this topical review we provide a route-map of the recent advances in cytoskeletal encapsulation techniques and outline recent reports that demonstrate shape change phenomena in simple biomimetic vesicle systems. We end with an outlook toward the next steps required to achieve more complex shape changes with the ultimate aim of building a fully functional synthetic cell with the capability to autonomously grow, divide and move.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Mulla
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Capping protein-controlled actin polymerization shapes lipid membranes. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1630. [PMID: 29691404 PMCID: PMC5915599 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03918-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin assembly at cell membranes drives the formation of protrusions or endocytic vesicles. To identify the mechanism by which different membrane deformations can be achieved, we reconstitute the basic membrane deformation modes of inward and outward bending in a confined geometry by encapsulating a minimal set of cytoskeletal proteins into giant unilamellar vesicles. Formation of membrane protrusions is favoured at low capping protein (CP) concentrations, whereas the formation of negatively bent domains is promoted at high CP concentrations. Addition of non-muscle myosin II results in full fission events in the vesicle system. The different deformation modes are rationalized by simulations of the underlying transient nature of the reaction kinetics. The relevance of the regulatory mechanism is supported by CP overexpression in mouse melanoma B16-F1 cells and therefore demonstrates the importance of the quantitative understanding of microscopic kinetic balances to address the diverse functionality of the cytoskeleton. Cell membrane protrusions and invaginations are both driven by actin assembly but the mechanism leading to different membrane shapes is unknown. Using a minimal system and modelling the authors reconstitute the deformation modes and identify capping protein as a regulator of both deformation types.
Collapse
|
39
|
Göpfrich K, Platzman I, Spatz JP. Mastering Complexity: Towards Bottom-up Construction of Multifunctional Eukaryotic Synthetic Cells. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 36:938-951. [PMID: 29685820 PMCID: PMC6100601 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
With the ultimate aim to construct a living cell, bottom-up synthetic biology strives to reconstitute cellular phenomena in vitro - disentangled from the complex environment of a cell. Recent work towards this ambitious goal has provided new insights into the mechanisms governing life. With the fast-growing library of functional modules for synthetic cells, their classification and integration become increasingly important. We discuss strategies to reverse-engineer and recombine functional parts for synthetic eukaryotes, mimicking the characteristics of nature's own prototype. Particularly, we focus on large outer compartments, complex endomembrane systems with organelles, and versatile cytoskeletons as hallmarks of eukaryotic life. Moreover, we identify microfluidics and DNA nanotechnology as two technologies that can integrate these functional modules into sophisticated multifunctional synthetic cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Göpfrich
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cellular Biophysics, Jahnstraße 29, D 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ilia Platzman
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cellular Biophysics, Jahnstraße 29, D 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Joachim P Spatz
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cellular Biophysics, Jahnstraße 29, D 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
|
41
|
Bahadori A, Moreno-Pescador G, Oddershede LB, Bendix PM. Remotely controlled fusion of selected vesicles and living cells: a key issue review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2018; 81:032602. [PMID: 29369822 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/aa9966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Remote control over fusion of single cells and vesicles has a great potential in biological and chemical research allowing both transfer of genetic material between cells and transfer of molecular content between vesicles. Membrane fusion is a critical process in biology that facilitates molecular transport and mixing of cellular cytoplasms with potential formation of hybrid cells. Cells precisely regulate internal membrane fusions with the aid of specialized fusion complexes that physically provide the energy necessary for mediating fusion. Physical factors like membrane curvature, tension and temperature, affect biological membrane fusion by lowering the associated energy barrier. This has inspired the development of physical approaches to harness the fusion process at a single cell level by using remotely controlled electromagnetic fields to trigger membrane fusion. Here, we critically review various approaches, based on lasers or electric pulses, to control fusion between individual cells or between individual lipid vesicles and discuss their potential and limitations for present and future applications within biochemistry, biology and soft matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azra Bahadori
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Rideau E, Dimova R, Schwille P, Wurm FR, Landfester K. Liposomes and polymersomes: a comparative review towards cell mimicking. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:8572-8610. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00162f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Minimal cells: we compare and contrast liposomes and polymersomes for a bettera priorichoice and design of vesicles and try to understand the advantages and shortcomings associated with using one or the other in many different aspects (properties, synthesis, self-assembly, applications).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Rideau
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
- 55128 Mainz
- Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces
- Wissenschaftspark Potsdam-Golm
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
- 82152 Martinsried
- Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Belmonte JM, Leptin M, Nédélec F. A theory that predicts behaviors of disordered cytoskeletal networks. Mol Syst Biol 2017; 13:941. [PMID: 28954810 PMCID: PMC5615920 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20177796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphogenesis in animal tissues is largely driven by actomyosin networks, through tensions generated by an active contractile process. Although the network components and their properties are known, and networks can be reconstituted in vitro, the requirements for contractility are still poorly understood. Here, we describe a theory that predicts whether an isotropic network will contract, expand, or conserve its dimensions. This analytical theory correctly predicts the behavior of simulated networks, consisting of filaments with varying combinations of connectors, and reveals conditions under which networks of rigid filaments are either contractile or expansile. Our results suggest that pulsatility is an intrinsic behavior of contractile networks if the filaments are not stable but turn over. The theory offers a unifying framework to think about mechanisms of contractions or expansion. It provides the foundation for studying a broad range of processes involving cytoskeletal networks and a basis for designing synthetic networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julio M Belmonte
- Directors's Research/Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Leptin
- Directors's Research/Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - François Nédélec
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Rubinstein BY, Mogilner A. Myosin Clusters of Finite Size Develop Contractile Stress in 1D Random Actin Arrays. Biophys J 2017; 113:937-947. [PMID: 28834729 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Myosin-powered force generation and contraction in nonmuscle cells underlies many cell biological processes and is based on contractility of random actin arrays. This contractility must rely on a microscopic asymmetry, the precise mechanism of which is not completely clear. A number of models of mechanical and structural asymmetries in actomyosin contraction have been posited. Here, we examine a contraction mechanism based on a finite size of myosin clusters and anisotropy of force generation by myosin heads at the ends of the myosin clusters. We use agent-based numerical simulations to demonstrate that if average lengths of actin filaments and myosin clusters are similar, then the proposed microscopic asymmetry leads to effective contraction of random 1D actomyosin arrays. We discuss the model's implication for mechanics of contractile rings and stress fibers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boris Y Rubinstein
- Stowers Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Alex Mogilner
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, New York; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Chabanon M, Stachowiak JC, Rangamani P. Systems biology of cellular membranes: a convergence with biophysics. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2017; 9:10.1002/wsbm.1386. [PMID: 28475297 PMCID: PMC5561455 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Systems biology and systems medicine have played an important role in the last two decades in shaping our understanding of biological processes. While systems biology is synonymous with network maps and '-omics' approaches, it is not often associated with mechanical processes. Here, we make the case for considering the mechanical and geometrical aspects of biological membranes as a key step in pushing the frontiers of systems biology of cellular membranes forward. We begin by introducing the basic components of cellular membranes, and highlight their dynamical aspects. We then survey the functions of the plasma membrane and the endomembrane system in signaling, and discuss the role and origin of membrane curvature in these diverse cellular processes. We further give an overview of the experimental and modeling approaches to study membrane phenomena. We close with a perspective on the converging futures of systems biology and membrane biophysics, invoking the need to include physical variables such as location and geometry in the study of cellular membranes. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2017, 9:e1386. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1386 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Chabanon
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeanne C. Stachowiak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Valentino F, Sens P, Lemière J, Allard A, Betz T, Campillo C, Sykes C. Fluctuations of a membrane nanotube revealed by high-resolution force measurements. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:9429-9435. [PMID: 27830219 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm02117d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Pulling membrane nanotubes from liposomes presents a powerful method to gain access to membrane mechanics. Here we extend classical optical tweezers studies to infer membrane nanotube dynamics with high spatial and temporal resolution. We first validate our force measurement setup by accurately measuring the bending modulus of EPC membrane in tube pulling experiments. Then we record the position signal of a trapped bead when it is connected, or not, to a tube. We derive the fluctuation spectrum of these signals and find that the presence of a membrane nanotube induces higher fluctuations, especially at low frequencies (10-1000 Hz). We analyse these spectra by taking into account the peristaltic modes of nanotube fluctuations. This analysis provides a new experimental framework for a quantitative study of the fluctuations of nanotubular membrane structures that are present in living cells, and now classically used for in vitro biomimetic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Valentino
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 168, 75005 Paris, France. and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France and Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 rue Thomas-Mann, 75205 Paris, France
| | - P Sens
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 168, 75005 Paris, France. and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - J Lemière
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 168, 75005 Paris, France. and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France and Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 rue Thomas-Mann, 75205 Paris, France
| | - A Allard
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 168, 75005 Paris, France. and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France and Université Evry Val d'Essonne, LAMBE, Boulevard F Mitterrand, Evry 91025, France.
| | - T Betz
- Institute of Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence, Münster University, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - C Campillo
- Université Evry Val d'Essonne, LAMBE, Boulevard F Mitterrand, Evry 91025, France.
| | - C Sykes
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 168, 75005 Paris, France. and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Linsmeier I, Banerjee S, Oakes PW, Jung W, Kim T, Murrell MP. Disordered actomyosin networks are sufficient to produce cooperative and telescopic contractility. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12615. [PMID: 27558758 PMCID: PMC5007339 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While the molecular interactions between individual myosin motors and F-actin are well established, the relationship between F-actin organization and actomyosin forces remains poorly understood. Here we explore the accumulation of myosin-induced stresses within a two-dimensional biomimetic model of the disordered actomyosin cytoskeleton, where myosin activity is controlled spatiotemporally using light. By controlling the geometry and the duration of myosin activation, we show that contraction of disordered actin networks is highly cooperative, telescopic with the activation size, and capable of generating non-uniform patterns of mechanical stress. We quantitatively reproduce these collective biomimetic properties using an isotropic active gel model of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, and explore the physical origins of telescopic contractility in disordered networks using agent-based simulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Linsmeier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 55 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA
| | | | - Patrick W. Oakes
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Wonyeong Jung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, 585 Purdue Mall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Taeyoon Kim
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, 206 S Martin Jischke Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Michael P. Murrell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, 55 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Caorsi V, Lemière J, Campillo C, Bussonnier M, Manzi J, Betz T, Plastino J, Carvalho K, Sykes C. Cell-sized liposome doublets reveal active tension build-up driven by acto-myosin dynamics. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:6223-6231. [PMID: 27378156 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm00856a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cells modulate their shape to fulfill specific functions, mediated by the cell cortex, a thin actin shell bound to the plasma membrane. Myosin motor activity, together with actin dynamics, contributes to cortical tension. Here, we examine the individual contributions of actin polymerization and myosin activity to tension increase with a non-invasive method. Cell-sized liposome doublets are covered with either a stabilized actin cortex of preformed actin filaments, or a dynamic branched actin network polymerizing at the membrane. The addition of myosin II minifilaments in both cases triggers a change in doublet shape that is unambiguously related to a tension increase. Preformed actin filaments allow us to evaluate the effect of myosin alone while, with dynamic actin cortices, we examine the synergy of actin polymerization and myosin motors in driving shape changes. Our assay paves the way for a quantification of tension changes triggered by various actin-associated proteins in a cell-sized system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Caorsi
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France
| | - J Lemière
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France and Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, F-75205, France and Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Nanobiology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C Campillo
- Université Evry Val d'Essonne, LAMBE, Boulevard F Mitterrand, Evry 91025, France
| | - M Bussonnier
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France and Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, F-75205, France
| | - J Manzi
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France
| | - T Betz
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France and Institute of Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence, Münster University, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J Plastino
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France
| | - K Carvalho
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France
| | - C Sykes
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR168, 75005, Paris, France and Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Loiseau E, Schneider JAM, Keber FC, Pelzl C, Massiera G, Salbreux G, Bausch AR. Shape remodeling and blebbing of active cytoskeletal vesicles. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1500465. [PMID: 27152328 PMCID: PMC4846454 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Morphological transformations of living cells, such as shape adaptation to external stimuli, blebbing, invagination, or tethering, result from an intricate interplay between the plasma membrane and its underlying cytoskeleton, where molecular motors generate forces. Cellular complexity defies a clear identification of the competing processes that lead to such a rich phenomenology. In a synthetic biology approach, designing a cell-like model assembled from a minimal set of purified building blocks would allow the control of all relevant parameters. We reconstruct actomyosin vesicles in which the coupling of the cytoskeleton to the membrane, the topology of the cytoskeletal network, and the contractile activity can all be precisely controlled and tuned. We demonstrate that tension generation of an encapsulated active actomyosin network suffices for global shape transformation of cell-sized lipid vesicles, which are reminiscent of morphological adaptations in living cells. The observed polymorphism of our cell-like model, such as blebbing, tether extrusion, or faceted shapes, can be qualitatively explained by the protein concentration dependencies and a force balance, taking into account the membrane tension, the density of anchoring points between the membrane and the actin network, and the forces exerted by molecular motors in the actin network. The identification of the physical mechanisms for shape transformations of active cytoskeletal vesicles sets a conceptual and quantitative benchmark for the further exploration of the adaptation mechanisms of cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Loiseau
- Department of Physics, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | | | - Felix C. Keber
- Department of Physics, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Carina Pelzl
- Department of Physics, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Gladys Massiera
- Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, UMR 5221, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume Salbreux
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- The Francis Crick Institute, Lincoln’s Inn Fields Laboratories, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Andreas R. Bausch
- Department of Physics, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Siton-Mendelson O, Bernheim-Groswasser A. Toward the reconstitution of synthetic cell motility. Cell Adh Migr 2016; 10:461-474. [PMID: 27019160 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2016.1170260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular motility is a fundamental process essential for embryonic development, wound healing, immune responses, and tissues development. Cells are mostly moving by crawling on external, or inside, substrates which can differ in their surface composition, geometry, and dimensionality. Cells can adopt different migration phenotypes, e.g., bleb-based and protrusion-based, depending on myosin contractility, surface adhesion, and cell confinement. In the few past decades, research on cell motility has focused on uncovering the major molecular players and their order of events. Despite major progresses, our ability to infer on the collective behavior from the molecular properties remains a major challenge, especially because cell migration integrates numerous chemical and mechanical processes that are coupled via feedbacks that span over large range of time and length scales. For this reason, reconstituted model systems were developed. These systems allow for full control of the molecular constituents and various system parameters, thereby providing insight into their individual roles and functions. In this review we describe the various reconstituted model systems that were developed in the past decades. Because of the multiple steps involved in cell motility and the complexity of the overall process, most of the model systems focus on very specific aspects of the individual steps of cell motility. Here we describe the main advancement in cell motility reconstitution and discuss the main challenges toward the realization of a synthetic motile cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orit Siton-Mendelson
- a Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilse Kats Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
| | - Anne Bernheim-Groswasser
- a Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilse Kats Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Beer-Sheva , Israel
| |
Collapse
|