SKM 2023 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 28: Poster Session II
BP 28.52: Poster
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 18:00–20:00, P2/EG
Does Size Matter? Actin filament length in cell migration — •Carsten Alexander Baltes1, Divyendu Goud Thalla1, and Franziska Lautenschläger1,2 — 1Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany — 2Center for Biophysics, Saarbrücken, Germany
The ability to perform cellular locomotion is crucial for a large variety of tasks. This includes the search and chase of immunecells for pathogens as well as the search for food and the reorganisation of cells in tissue developement. The cytoskeleton protein actin is particularly important for migration of eucaryotic cells. It is involved in the formation of filopodia and creates a retrograde flow from the leading edge towards the back of the cell, both of which allow them to move forward. Alteration of the actin network therefore might have an impact of the migratory behavior of cells. Here I am going to present the effects of elongated actin filaments on migrating RPE-1 cells. I will show that cells, migrating either on 1D fibronectin lines or on a fibronectin coated surface, displayed a reduction of migration speed, while keeping their persistence. They also occupy a larger area when allowed to spread freely and expres a higher amount of focal adhesions. The change in migration speed vanishes when we put those cells under confinement in PDMS microchannels. Taking those facts together we propose that the length of actin filaments is important for cell migration. However further research is needed to fully understand the importance regarding the different migration modes cells can take depending on the surrounding environment.