Guided by curvature: A theoretical model of cellular shape dynamics and motility, coupling curvature and activity

Prof Nir Gov, Weizmann Inst of Science, Rehovoth, Israel

Thursday, May 8,  2025, 11:00 AM, Los Angeles Seminar Room

Abstract: How cells can control their shapes, and utilize these shape changes functionally, for
example during migration, is an ongoing challenge in biology. We theoretically
explore a mechanism whereby the membrane is deformed by curved membrane
proteins that recruit cytoskeleton-based forces, such as the recruitment of actin
polymerization to the membrane. Combining these two membrane deforming
mechanisms, opens up the possibility for a variety of feedbacks. For example, convex
proteins (protruding outwards) enhance their aggregation when recruiting protrusive
forces (due to actin polymerization), and this coupling can induce strong pattern
formation that spontaneously breaks the uniform state. We have found that this
curvature-activity coupling can explain the lamellipodia-driven spreading of adhering
cells, and that it contains the minimal ingredients to exhibit spontaneous motility.
Surprisingly, this minimal model can explain a variety of observed cellular dynamics,
such as phagocytosis and how migrating cells move over curved surfaces. The
simplicity of the model, with a small number of components, enables us to gain deep
understanding and understand the physics driving biological phenomena.