Speaker
Description
Cell migration is a complex biological process underlying phenomena such as wound healing, tissue morphogenesis, and cancer invasion. A key component of this process is the formation and turnover of focal adhesions, which provides a mechanical coupling between the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Actin filaments anchored at focal adhesions generate forces on the cell membrane, driving the formation of protrusions that regulates cell movement.
In this work, we develop a mathematical framework based on geometric surface partial differential equations (GS-PDEs) to investigate the role of focal adhesions in cell migration. GS-PDE models have shown strong potential in describing cell shape evolution and migratory behaviour. Building on this approach, we incorporate the maturation and dynamics of focal adhesions and examine their interplay with membrane forces generated by actin polymerisation at the leading edge. Our model enables us to study how focal adhesion growth and turnover influence protrusion formation and overall cell motility. This framework provides new insight into the mechanical processes governing cell migration.
