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Dynamics of epithelial monolayers has recently been
interpreted in terms of a jamming or rigidity
transition.
How cells control such phase transitions is,
however, unknown.
Here researchers show that RAB5A, a key endocytic
protein, is sufficient to induce large-scale,
coordinated motility over tens of cells, and
ballistic motion in otherwise kinetically arrested
monolayers.
This is linked to increased traction forces and to
the extension of cell protrusions, which align with
local velocity.
Molecularly, impairing endocytosis, macropinocytosis
or increasing fluid efflux abrogates RAB5A-induced
collective motility.
A simple model based on mechanical junctional
tension and an active cell reorientation mechanism
for the velocity of self-propelled cells identifies
regimes of monolayer dynamics that explain endocytic
reawakening of locomotion in terms of a combination
of large-scale directed migration and local
unjamming.
These changes in multicellular dynamics enable
collectives to migrate under physical constraints
and may be exploited by tumours for interstitial
dissemination.
For more information
Nature materials
Endocytic reawakening of motility in jammed
epithelia
Chiara Malinverno, Salvatore Corallino, Fabio
Giavazzi, Martin Bergert, Qingsen Li,Marco Leoni,
Andrea Disanza, Emanuela Frittoli, Amanda Oldani,
Emanuele Martini, Tobias Lendenmann, Gianluca
Deflorian, Galina V. Beznoussenko, , Dimos
Poulikakos, Kok Haur Ong, Marina Uroz, Xavier Trepat,
Dario Parazzoli, Paolo Maiuri, Weimiao Yu, Aldo
Ferrari, Roberto Cerbino, and Giorgio Scita
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