1
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Chakrabarti B, Shelley MJ, Fürthauer S. Collective Motion and Pattern Formation in Phase-Synchronizing Active Fluids. Phys Rev Lett 2023; 130:128202. [PMID: 37027863 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.128202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Many active particles, such as swimming micro-organisms or motor proteins, do work on their environment by going though a periodic sequence of shapes. Interactions between particles can lead to synchronization of their duty cycles. Here, we study the collective dynamics of a suspension of active particles coupled through hydrodynamics. We find that at high enough density the system transitions to a state of collective motion by a mechanism that is distinct from other instabilities in active matter systems. Second, we demonstrate that the emergent nonequilibrium states feature stationary chimera patterns in which synchronized and phase-isotropic regions coexist. Third, we show that in confinement, oscillatory flows and robust unidirectional pumping states exist, and can be selected by choice of alignment boundary conditions. These results point toward a new route to collective motion and pattern formation and could guide the design of new active materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brato Chakrabarti
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, New York 10010, USA
| | - Michael J Shelley
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, New York 10010, USA
- Courant Institute, New York University, New York, New York 10012, USA
| | - Sebastian Fürthauer
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, New York 10010, USA
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, A-1040 Wien, Austria
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2
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Lantzsch I, Yu CH, Chen YZ, Zimyanin V, Yazdkhasti H, Lindow N, Szentgyoergyi E, Pani AM, Prohaska S, Srayko M, Fürthauer S, Redemann S. Correction: Microtubule reorganization during female meiosis in C. elegans. eLife 2023; 12:86893. [PMID: 36820823 PMCID: PMC9949784 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
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3
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Chakrabarti B, Fürthauer S, Shelley MJ. A multiscale biophysical model gives quantized metachronal waves in a lattice of beating cilia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2113539119. [PMID: 35046031 PMCID: PMC8795537 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113539119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Motile cilia are slender, hair-like cellular appendages that spontaneously oscillate under the action of internal molecular motors and are typically found in dense arrays. These active filaments coordinate their beating to generate metachronal waves that drive long-range fluid transport and locomotion. Until now, our understanding of their collective behavior largely comes from the study of minimal models that coarse grain the relevant biophysics and the hydrodynamics of slender structures. Here we build on a detailed biophysical model to elucidate the emergence of metachronal waves on millimeter scales from nanometer-scale motor activity inside individual cilia. Our study of a one-dimensional lattice of cilia in the presence of hydrodynamic and steric interactions reveals how metachronal waves are formed and maintained. We find that, in homogeneous beds of cilia, these interactions lead to multiple attracting states, all of which are characterized by an integer charge that is conserved. This even allows us to design initial conditions that lead to predictable emergent states. Finally, and very importantly, we show that, in nonuniform ciliary tissues, boundaries and inhomogeneities provide a robust route to metachronal waves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brato Chakrabarti
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010
| | - Sebastian Fürthauer
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010;
- Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna 1040, Austria
| | - Michael J Shelley
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010;
- Courant Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10012
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4
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Chartier NT, Mukherjee A, Pfanzelter J, Fürthauer S, Larson BT, Fritsch AW, Amini R, Kreysing M, Jülicher F, Grill SW. A hydraulic instability drives the cell death decision in the nematode germline. Nat Phys 2021; 17:920-925. [PMID: 34777551 PMCID: PMC8548275 DOI: 10.1038/s41567-021-01235-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Oocytes are large cells that develop into an embryo upon fertilization1. As interconnected germ cells mature into oocytes, some of them grow-typically at the expense of others that undergo cell death2-4. We present evidence that in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, this cell-fate decision is mechanical and related to tissue hydraulics. An analysis of germ cell volumes and material fluxes identifies a hydraulic instability that amplifies volume differences and causes some germ cells to grow and others to shrink, a phenomenon that is related to the two-balloon instability5. Shrinking germ cells are extruded and they die, as we demonstrate by artificially reducing germ cell volumes via thermoviscous pumping6. Our work reveals a hydraulic symmetry-breaking transition central to the decision between life and death in the nematode germline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arghyadip Mukherjee
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS), Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Pfanzelter
- Biotechnology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Ben T. Larson
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Anatol W. Fritsch
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
| | - Rana Amini
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
| | - Moritz Kreysing
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence—Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Jülicher
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS), Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence—Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan W. Grill
- Biotechnology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence—Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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5
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Lantzsch I, Yu CH, Chen YZ, Zimyanin V, Yazdkhasti H, Lindow N, Szentgyoergyi E, Pani AM, Prohaska S, Srayko M, Fürthauer S, Redemann S. Microtubule reorganization during female meiosis in C. elegans. eLife 2021; 10:58903. [PMID: 34114562 PMCID: PMC8225387 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Most female meiotic spindles undergo striking morphological changes while transitioning from metaphase to anaphase. The ultra-structure of meiotic spindles, and how changes to this structure correlate with such dramatic spindle rearrangements remains largely unknown. To address this, we applied light microscopy, large-scale electron tomography and mathematical modeling of female meiotic Caenorhabditis elegans spindles. Combining these approaches, we find that meiotic spindles are dynamic arrays of short microtubules that turn over within seconds. The results show that the metaphase to anaphase transition correlates with an increase in microtubule numbers and a decrease in their average length. Detailed analysis of the tomographic data revealed that the microtubule length changes significantly during the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. This effect is most pronounced for microtubules located within 150 nm of the chromosome surface. To understand the mechanisms that drive this transition, we developed a mathematical model for the microtubule length distribution that considers microtubule growth, catastrophe, and severing. Using Bayesian inference to compare model predictions and data, we find that microtubule turn-over is the major driver of the spindle reorganizations. Our data suggest that in metaphase only a minor fraction of microtubules, those closest to the chromosomes, are severed. The large majority of microtubules, which are not in close contact with chromosomes, do not undergo severing. Instead, their length distribution is fully explained by growth and catastrophe. This suggests that the most prominent drivers of spindle rearrangements are changes in nucleation and catastrophe rate. In addition, we provide evidence that microtubule severing is dependent on katanin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Lantzsch
- Experimental Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Che-Hang Yu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Yu-Zen Chen
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Vitaly Zimyanin
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Hossein Yazdkhasti
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | | | - Erik Szentgyoergyi
- Experimental Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Ariel M Pani
- Department of Biology, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States,Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | | | - Martin Srayko
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
| | | | - Stefanie Redemann
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States,Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of MedicineCharlottesvilleUnited States
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6
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Pelletier JF, Field CM, Fürthauer S, Sonnett M, Mitchison TJ. Co-movement of astral microtubules, organelles and F-actin by dynein and actomyosin forces in frog egg cytoplasm. eLife 2020; 9:e60047. [PMID: 33284105 PMCID: PMC7759381 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
How bulk cytoplasm generates forces to separate post-anaphase microtubule (MT) asters in Xenopus laevis and other large eggs remains unclear. Previous models proposed that dynein-based, inward organelle transport generates length-dependent pulling forces that move centrosomes and MTs outwards, while other components of cytoplasm are static. We imaged aster movement by dynein and actomyosin forces in Xenopus egg extracts and observed outward co-movement of MTs, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, acidic organelles, F-actin, keratin, and soluble fluorescein. Organelles exhibited a burst of dynein-dependent inward movement at the growing aster periphery, then mostly halted inside the aster, while dynein-coated beads moved to the aster center at a constant rate, suggesting organelle movement is limited by brake proteins or other sources of drag. These observations call for new models in which all components of the cytoplasm comprise a mechanically integrated aster gel that moves collectively in response to dynein and actomyosin forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Pelletier
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Marine Biological LaboratoryWoods HoleUnited States
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| | - Christine M Field
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Marine Biological LaboratoryWoods HoleUnited States
| | | | - Matthew Sonnett
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Timothy J Mitchison
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Marine Biological LaboratoryWoods HoleUnited States
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7
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Fürthauer S, Lemma B, Foster PJ, Ems-McClung SC, Yu CH, Walczak CE, Dogic Z, Needleman DJ, Shelley MJ. Self-straining of actively crosslinked microtubule networks. Nat Phys 2019; 15:1295-1300. [PMID: 32322291 PMCID: PMC7176317 DOI: 10.1038/s41567-019-0642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cytoskeletal networks are foundational examples of active matter and central to self-organized structures in the cell. In vivo, these networks are active and densely crosslinked. Relating their large-scale dynamics to the properties of their constituents remains an unsolved problem. Here, we study an in vitro active gel made from aligned microtubules and XCTK2 kinesin motors. Using photobleaching, we demonstrate that the gel's aligned microtubules, driven by motors, continually slide past each other at a speed independent of the local microtubule polarity and motor concentration. This phenomenon is also observed, and remains unexplained, in spindles. We derive a general framework for coarse graining microtubule gels crosslinked by molecular motors from microscopic considerations. Using microtubule-microtubule coupling through a force-velocity relationship for kinesin, this theory naturally explains the experimental results: motors generate an active strain rate in regions of changing polarity, which allows microtubules of opposite polarities to slide past each other without stressing the material.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bezia Lemma
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Peter J Foster
- Physics of Living Systems, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Che-Hang Yu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Zvonimir Dogic
- Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Daniel J Needleman
- Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Science and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael J Shelley
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Courant Institute, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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8
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Redemann S, Fürthauer S, Shelley M, Müller-Reichert T. Current approaches for the analysis of spindle organization. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 58:269-277. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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9
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Foster PJ, Fürthauer S, Shelley MJ, Needleman DJ. From cytoskeletal assemblies to living materials. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2018; 56:109-114. [PMID: 30500745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Many subcellular structures contain large numbers of cytoskeletal filaments. Such assemblies underlie much of cell division, motility, signaling, metabolism, and growth. Thus, understanding cell biology requires understanding the properties of networks of cytoskeletal filaments. While there are well established disciplines in biology dedicated to studying isolated proteins - their structure (Structural Biology) and behaviors (Biochemistry) - it is much less clear how to investigate, or even just describe, the structure and behaviors of collections of cytoskeletal filaments. One approach is to use methodologies from Mechanics and Soft Condensed Matter Physics, which have been phenomenally successful in the domains where they have been traditionally applied. From this perspective, collections of cytoskeletal filaments are viewed as materials, albeit very complex, 'active' materials, composed of molecules which use chemical energy to perform mechanical work. A major challenge is to relate these material level properties to the behaviors of the molecular constituents. Here we discuss this materials perspective and review recent work bridging molecular and network scale properties of the cytoskeleton, focusing on the organization of microtubules by dynein as an illustrative example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Foster
- Physics of Livings Systems, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sebastian Fürthauer
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Michael J Shelley
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010, USA; Courant Institute, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Daniel J Needleman
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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10
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Naganathan SR, Fürthauer S, Rodriguez J, Fievet BT, Jülicher F, Ahringer J, Cannistraci CV, Grill SW. Morphogenetic degeneracies in the actomyosin cortex. eLife 2018; 7:37677. [PMID: 30346273 PMCID: PMC6226289 DOI: 10.7554/elife.37677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the great challenges in biology is to understand the mechanisms by which morphogenetic processes arise from molecular activities. We investigated this problem in the context of actomyosin-based cortical flow in C. elegans zygotes, where large-scale flows emerge from the collective action of actomyosin filaments and actin binding proteins (ABPs). Large-scale flow dynamics can be captured by active gel theory by considering force balances and conservation laws in the actomyosin cortex. However, which molecular activities contribute to flow dynamics and large-scale physical properties such as viscosity and active torque is largely unknown. By performing a candidate RNAi screen of ABPs and actomyosin regulators we demonstrate that perturbing distinct molecular processes can lead to similar flow phenotypes. This is indicative for a ‘morphogenetic degeneracy’ where multiple molecular processes contribute to the same large-scale physical property. We speculate that morphogenetic degeneracies contribute to the robustness of bulk biological matter in development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sebastian Fürthauer
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, United States
| | - Josana Rodriguez
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Thomas Fievet
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Jülicher
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julie Ahringer
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Vittorio Cannistraci
- BIOTEC, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Brain Bio-Inspired Computing (BBC) Lab, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,BIOTEC, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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11
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Redemann S, Baumgart J, Lindow N, Shelley M, Nazockdast E, Kratz A, Prohaska S, Brugues J, Fürthauer S, Müller-Reichert T. C. Elegans Chromosomes Connect to Centrosomes by Anchoring into the Spindle Network. Biophys J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.2112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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12
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Naganathan SR, Middelkoop TC, Fürthauer S, Grill SW. Actomyosin-driven left-right asymmetry: from molecular torques to chiral self organization. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2016; 38:24-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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13
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Abstract
Many cellular processes are driven by cytoskeletal assemblies. It remains unclear how cytoskeletal filaments and motor proteins organize into cellular scale structures and how molecular properties of cytoskeletal components affect the large-scale behaviors of these systems. Here, we investigate the self-organization of stabilized microtubules in Xenopus oocyte extracts and find that they can form macroscopic networks that spontaneously contract. We propose that these contractions are driven by the clustering of microtubule minus ends by dynein. Based on this idea, we construct an active fluid theory of network contractions, which predicts a dependence of the timescale of contraction on initial network geometry, a development of density inhomogeneities during contraction, a constant final network density, and a strong influence of dynein inhibition on the rate of contraction, all in quantitative agreement with experiments. These results demonstrate that the motor-driven clustering of filament ends is a generic mechanism leading to contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Foster
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Sebastian Fürthauer
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Science, New York University, New York, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Michael J Shelley
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Science, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Daniel J Needleman
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
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14
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Naganathan SR, Fürthauer S, Nishikawa M, Jülicher F, Grill SW. Active torque generation by the actomyosin cell cortex drives left-right symmetry breaking. eLife 2014; 3:e04165. [PMID: 25517077 PMCID: PMC4269833 DOI: 10.7554/elife.04165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many developmental processes break left-right (LR) symmetry with a consistent handedness. LR asymmetry emerges early in development, and in many species the primary determinant of this asymmetry has been linked to the cytoskeleton. However, the nature of the underlying chirally asymmetric cytoskeletal processes has remained elusive. In this study, we combine thin-film active chiral fluid theory with experimental analysis of the C. elegans embryo to show that the actomyosin cortex generates active chiral torques to facilitate chiral symmetry breaking. Active torques drive chiral counter-rotating cortical flow in the zygote, depend on myosin activity, and can be altered through mild changes in Rho signaling. Notably, they also execute the chiral skew event at the 4-cell stage to establish the C. elegans LR body axis. Taken together, our results uncover a novel, large-scale physical activity of the actomyosin cytoskeleton that provides a fundamental mechanism for chiral morphogenesis in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundar Ram Naganathan
- Biotechnology Center, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Fürthauer
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Masatoshi Nishikawa
- Biotechnology Center, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Jülicher
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Biotechnology Center, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
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15
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Abstract
We present a theory for self-driven fluids, such as motorized cytoskeletal extracts or microbial suspensions, that takes into account the underlying periodic duty cycle carried by the constituent active particles. We show that an orientationally ordered active fluid can undergo a transition to a state in which the particles synchronize their phases. This spontaneous breaking of time-translation invariance gives rise to flow instabilities distinct from those arising in phase-incoherent active matter. Our work is of relevance to the transport of fluids in living systems and makes predictions for concentrated active-particle suspensions and optically driven colloidal arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Fürthauer
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 21 Brundavan Colony, Narsingi, Hyderabad 500 089, India
| | - Sriram Ramaswamy
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 21 Brundavan Colony, Narsingi, Hyderabad 500 089, India
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16
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Abstract
We develop a generic description of thin active films that captures key features of flow and rotation patterns emerging from the activity of chiral motors which introduce torque dipoles. We highlight the role of the spin rotation field and show that fluid flows can occur in two ways: by coupling of the spin rotation rate to the velocity field via a surface or by spatial gradients of the spin rotation rate. We discuss our results in the context of patches of bacteria on solid surfaces and groups of rotating cilia. Our theory could apply to active chiral processes in the cell cytoskeleton and in epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Fürthauer
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - M Strempel
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - S W Grill
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - F Jülicher
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany
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Fürthauer S, Strempel M, Grill SW, Jülicher F. Active chiral fluids. Eur Phys J E Soft Matter 2012; 35:89. [PMID: 23001784 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2012-12089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Revised: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Active processes in biological systems often exhibit chiral asymmetries. Examples are the chirality of cytoskeletal filaments which interact with motor proteins, the chirality of the beat of cilia and flagella as well as the helical trajectories of many biological microswimmers. Here, we derive constitutive material equations for active fluids which account for the effects of active chiral processes. We identify active contributions to the antisymmetric part of the stress as well as active angular momentum fluxes. We discuss four types of elementary chiral motors and their effects on a surrounding fluid. We show that large-scale chiral flows can result from the collective behavior of such motors even in cases where isolated motors do not create a hydrodynamic far field.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Fürthauer
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
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