Projects per year
Abstract / Description of output
The Rho GTPases pattern the cell cortex in a variety of fundamental cell-morphogenetic processes including division, wound repair, and locomotion. It has recently become apparent that this patterning arises from the ability of the Rho GTPases to self-organize into static and migrating spots, contractile pulses, and propagating waves in cells from yeasts to mammals1. These self-organizing Rho GTPase patterns have been explained by a variety of theoretical models which require multiple interacting positive and negative feedback loops. However, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to discriminate between different models simply because the available experimental data do not simultaneously capture the dynamics of multiple molecular concentrations and biomechanical variables at fine spatial and temporal resolution. Specifically, most studies typically provide either the total Rho GTPase signal or the Rho GTPase activity as reported by various sensors, but not both. Therefore, it remains largely unknown how membrane accumulation of Rho GTPases (i.e., Rho membrane enrichment) is related to Rho activity. Here we dissect the dynamics of RhoA by simultaneously imaging both total RhoA and active RhoA in propagating waves of Rho activity and F-actin polymerization2-5. We find that within nascent waves, accumulation of active RhoA precedes that of total RhoA, and we exploit this finding to distinguish between two popular theoretical models previously used to explain propagating cortical Rho waves.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Current Biology |
Publication status | Accepted/In press - 3 Feb 2025 |
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20?BBSRC/NSF?BIO: Synthetic Control of Pattern Formation and Morphogenesis in a Purposefully Rewired Vertebrate Cell
25/04/22 → 24/04/26
Project: Research
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Realizing mechano-biochemical model of cell morphogenesis: A simulation approach
1/01/21 → 31/12/23
Project: Research