Long-term Tension Regulation of Single Cells In Collective Cell Migration

Shameem, Muhamad (2023) Long-term Tension Regulation of Single Cells In Collective Cell Migration. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (Ms dissertation of Muhamad Shameem (18MS192)) Thesis_18MS192.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (3MB)

Abstract

The study of collective cell migration demands an understanding of the constituent migrating cells that compose the collective; and how the added complexities in collective migration: such as cell-cell interactions and heterogeneity within the cell sheet, choreograph the collective’s dynamics to perform crucial processes in physiology, such as wound healing, morphogenesis, and even the aberrant migration observed in cancer metastasis. Previous studies on single-cell migration have shown a steady front high tension gradient and a decreasing actin density from the front to back. A collective cell migration study from our lab has shown both front-high and front-low tension gradients; this could provide us with a unique opportunity to understand how the tension gradient which directs the migration is related to actin-polymerization, which fuels the migration, experimentally. To understand how tension at the front changes with time, we have followed leader cells in primary keratocyte epithelial cell sheet migration, using interference reflection microscopy (IRM) and TIRF for long duration in regular intervals. The membrane tension estimation from membrane height fluctuation of the basal membrane grants us the power to acquire membrane tension and map it for the cell front. Our study reports and has examined the oscillation of membrane tension of migrating keratocyte leader cells and its relation to the cell’s motility. To further explore the role of actin polymerization in the observed oscillations in membrane tension and migration speed, actin polymerization was subjected to molecular disruption.

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