2021
4.
Felix Kempf; Andriy Goychuk; Erwin Frey
Tissue flow through pores: a computational study Miscellaneous
2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cell Migration, Cell Polarization, Cellular Potts Model, Collective Dynamics, Confined Migration, Simulation
@misc{kempf_tissue_2021,
title = {Tissue flow through pores: a computational study},
author = {Felix Kempf and Andriy Goychuk and Erwin Frey},
url = {http://biorxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2021.03.25.436985},
doi = {10.1101/2021.03.25.436985},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-03-01},
urldate = {2026-05-29},
publisher = {Biophysics},
abstract = {Cell migration is of major importance for the understanding of phenomena such as morphogenesis, cancer metastasis, or wound healing. In many of these situations cells are under external confinement. In this work we show by means of computer simulations with a Cellular Potts Model (CPM) that the presence of a bottleneck in an otherwise straight channel has a major influence on the internal organisation of an invading cellular monolayer and the motion of individual cells therein. Comparable to a glass or viscoelastic material, the cell sheet is found to exhibit features of both classical solids and classical fluids. The local ordering on average corresponds to a regular hexagonal lattice, while the relative motion of cells is unbounded. Compared to an unconstricted channel, we observe that a bottleneck perturbs the formation of regular hexagonal arrangements in the epithelial sheet and leads to pile-ups and backflow of cells near the entrance to the constriction, which also affects the overall invasion speed. The scale of these various phenomena depends on the dimensions of the different channel parts, as well as the shape of the funnel domain that connects wider to narrower regions.},
keywords = {Cell Migration, Cell Polarization, Cellular Potts Model, Collective Dynamics, Confined Migration, Simulation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {misc}
}
Cell migration is of major importance for the understanding of phenomena such as morphogenesis, cancer metastasis, or wound healing. In many of these situations cells are under external confinement. In this work we show by means of computer simulations with a Cellular Potts Model (CPM) that the presence of a bottleneck in an otherwise straight channel has a major influence on the internal organisation of an invading cellular monolayer and the motion of individual cells therein. Comparable to a glass or viscoelastic material, the cell sheet is found to exhibit features of both classical solids and classical fluids. The local ordering on average corresponds to a regular hexagonal lattice, while the relative motion of cells is unbounded. Compared to an unconstricted channel, we observe that a bottleneck perturbs the formation of regular hexagonal arrangements in the epithelial sheet and leads to pile-ups and backflow of cells near the entrance to the constriction, which also affects the overall invasion speed. The scale of these various phenomena depends on the dimensions of the different channel parts, as well as the shape of the funnel domain that connects wider to narrower regions.
2020
3.
Fang Zhou; Sophia A. Schaffer; Christoph Schreiber; Felix J. Segerer; Andriy Goychuk; Erwin Frey; Joachim O. Rädler
Quasi-periodic migration of single cells on short microlanes Journal Article
In: PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. e0230679, 2020, ISSN: 1932-6203.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Actin Polymerization, Actins, Cell Migration, Cellular Potts Model, Cytoskeleton, Depolarization, Directed Cell Migration, Simulation, Transfection, Velocity
@article{zhou_quasi-periodic_2020,
title = {Quasi-periodic migration of single cells on short microlanes},
author = {Fang Zhou and Sophia A. Schaffer and Christoph Schreiber and Felix J. Segerer and Andriy Goychuk and Erwin Frey and Joachim O. Rädler},
editor = {Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo},
url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230679},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0230679},
issn = {1932-6203},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-04-01},
urldate = {2026-05-29},
journal = {PLOS ONE},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {e0230679},
abstract = {Cell migration on microlanes represents a suitable and simple platform for the exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell cytoskeleton dynamics. Here, we report on the quasi-periodic movement of cells confined in stripe-shaped microlanes. We observe persistent polarized cell shapes and directed pole-to-pole motion within the microlanes. Cells depolarize at one end of a given microlane, followed by delayed repolarization towards the opposite end. We analyze cell motility via the spatial velocity distribution, the velocity frequency spectrum and the reversal time as a measure for depolarization and spontaneous repolarization of cells at the microlane ends. The frequent encounters of a boundary in the stripe geometry provides a robust framework for quantitative investigations of the cytoskeleton protrusion and repolarization dynamics. In a first advance to rigorously test physical models of cell migration, we find that the statistics of the cell migration is recapitulated by a Cellular Potts model with a minimal description of cytoskeleton dynamics. Using LifeAct-GFP transfected cells and microlanes with differently shaped ends, we show that the local deformation of the leading cell edge in response to the tip geometry can locally either amplify or quench actin polymerization, while leaving the average reversal times unaffected.},
keywords = {Actin Polymerization, Actins, Cell Migration, Cellular Potts Model, Cytoskeleton, Depolarization, Directed Cell Migration, Simulation, Transfection, Velocity},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Cell migration on microlanes represents a suitable and simple platform for the exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell cytoskeleton dynamics. Here, we report on the quasi-periodic movement of cells confined in stripe-shaped microlanes. We observe persistent polarized cell shapes and directed pole-to-pole motion within the microlanes. Cells depolarize at one end of a given microlane, followed by delayed repolarization towards the opposite end. We analyze cell motility via the spatial velocity distribution, the velocity frequency spectrum and the reversal time as a measure for depolarization and spontaneous repolarization of cells at the microlane ends. The frequent encounters of a boundary in the stripe geometry provides a robust framework for quantitative investigations of the cytoskeleton protrusion and repolarization dynamics. In a first advance to rigorously test physical models of cell migration, we find that the statistics of the cell migration is recapitulated by a Cellular Potts model with a minimal description of cytoskeleton dynamics. Using LifeAct-GFP transfected cells and microlanes with differently shaped ends, we show that the local deformation of the leading cell edge in response to the tip geometry can locally either amplify or quench actin polymerization, while leaving the average reversal times unaffected.
2019
2.
Florian Thüroff; Andriy Goychuk; Matthias Reiter; Erwin Frey
Bridging the gap between single-cell migration and collective dynamics Journal Article
In: eLife, vol. 8, pp. e46842, 2019, ISSN: 2050-084X.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cell Migration, Cell Polarization, Cellular Potts Model, Collective Dynamics, Simulation, Wound Healing
@article{thuroff_bridging_2019,
title = {Bridging the gap between single-cell migration and collective dynamics},
author = {Florian Thüroff and Andriy Goychuk and Matthias Reiter and Erwin Frey},
url = {https://elifesciences.org/articles/46842},
doi = {10.7554/eLife.46842},
issn = {2050-084X},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-12-01},
urldate = {2026-05-29},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {8},
pages = {e46842},
abstract = {Motivated by the wealth of experimental data recently available, we present a cellular-automaton-based modeling framework focussing on high-level cell functions and their concerted effect on cellular migration patterns. Specifically, we formulate a coarse-grained description of cell polarity through self-regulated actin organization and its response to mechanical cues. Furthermore, we address the impact of cell adhesion on collective migration in cell cohorts. The model faithfully reproduces typical cell shapes and movements down to the level of single cells, yet allows for the efficient simulation of confluent tissues. In confined circular geometries, we find that specific properties of individual cells (polarizability; contractility) influence the emerging collective motion of small cell cohorts. Finally, we study the properties of expanding cellular monolayers (front morphology; stress and velocity distributions) at the level of extended tissues.},
keywords = {Cell Migration, Cell Polarization, Cellular Potts Model, Collective Dynamics, Simulation, Wound Healing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Motivated by the wealth of experimental data recently available, we present a cellular-automaton-based modeling framework focussing on high-level cell functions and their concerted effect on cellular migration patterns. Specifically, we formulate a coarse-grained description of cell polarity through self-regulated actin organization and its response to mechanical cues. Furthermore, we address the impact of cell adhesion on collective migration in cell cohorts. The model faithfully reproduces typical cell shapes and movements down to the level of single cells, yet allows for the efficient simulation of confluent tissues. In confined circular geometries, we find that specific properties of individual cells (polarizability; contractility) influence the emerging collective motion of small cell cohorts. Finally, we study the properties of expanding cellular monolayers (front morphology; stress and velocity distributions) at the level of extended tissues.
2018
1.
Andriy Goychuk; David B. Brückner; Andrew W. Holle; Joachim P. Spatz; Chase P. Broedersz; Erwin Frey
Morphology and Motility of Cells on Soft Substrates Miscellaneous
2018, (Version Number: 2).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biological Physics, Cell Behavior, Cell Migration, Cell Polarization, Cellular Potts Model, Mechanobiology, Simulation, Traction Force
@misc{goychuk_morphology_2018,
title = {Morphology and Motility of Cells on Soft Substrates},
author = {Andriy Goychuk and David B. Brückner and Andrew W. Holle and Joachim P. Spatz and Chase P. Broedersz and Erwin Frey},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/1808.00314},
doi = {10.48550/ARXIV.1808.00314},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
urldate = {2026-05-29},
publisher = {arXiv},
abstract = {Recent experiments suggest that the interplay between cells and the mechanics of their substrate gives rise to a diversity of morphological and migrational behaviors. Here, we develop a Cellular Potts Model of polarizing cells on a visco-elastic substrate. We compare our model with experiments on endothelial cells plated on polyacrylamide hydrogels to constrain model parameters and test predictions. Our analysis reveals that morphology and migratory behavior are determined by an intricate interplay between cellular polarization and substrate strain gradients generated by traction forces exerted by cells (self-haptotaxis).},
note = {Version Number: 2},
keywords = {Biological Physics, Cell Behavior, Cell Migration, Cell Polarization, Cellular Potts Model, Mechanobiology, Simulation, Traction Force},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {misc}
}
Recent experiments suggest that the interplay between cells and the mechanics of their substrate gives rise to a diversity of morphological and migrational behaviors. Here, we develop a Cellular Potts Model of polarizing cells on a visco-elastic substrate. We compare our model with experiments on endothelial cells plated on polyacrylamide hydrogels to constrain model parameters and test predictions. Our analysis reveals that morphology and migratory behavior are determined by an intricate interplay between cellular polarization and substrate strain gradients generated by traction forces exerted by cells (self-haptotaxis).