Rozman J, Yeomans JM, Sknepnek R. Shape-Tension Coupling Produces Nematic Order in an Epithelium Vertex Model.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023;
131:228301. [PMID:
38101347 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.131.228301]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
We study the vertex model for epithelial tissue mechanics extended to include coupling between the cell shapes and tensions in cell-cell junctions. This coupling represents an active force which drives the system out of equilibrium and leads to the formation of nematic order interspersed with prominent, long-lived +1 defects. The defects in the nematic ordering are coupled to the shape of the cell tiling, affecting cell areas and coordinations. This intricate interplay between cell shape, size, and coordination provides a possible mechanism by which tissues could spontaneously develop long-range polarity through local mechanical forces without resorting to long-range chemical patterning.
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