Speaker
Description
Cell migration is a ubiquitous and complex process in biology, spanning embryonic development to cancer metastasis. During migration, cells undergo high deformation as they explore the medium or as they traverse narrow pores. Over the last decades, there has been an increasing interest in mathematical models for cell migration, with the particular challenge of integrating dynamic bio-chemo-mechanical processes within an evolving domain. Here, we present a biophysical model of cell migration grounded in the theory of curvature-elastic energetic biomembranes. We develop the model systematically, progressing from equilibrium in the absence of external loads to migration through confined environments. We study diverse migration scenarios, emphasising the mechanical coupling between the cell plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope, and the role of size constraints in cell squeezing. These size constraints arise from the finite availability of lipids to constitute the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope, combined with osmotic pressure, together restricting surface area and volume. While the elastic stiffness of the nucleus has been thought to be the main obstacle for cell migration in confinement, our results suggest that size constraints and the membrane-to-nucleus mechanical coupling also play a critical role. This suggestion aligns with recent experimental studies tracking the evolution of the nucleus during cell migration.
