Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27109213›Full record

ArticleNature communications2016

Mechanical cell competition kills cells via induction of lethal p53 levels.

Laura Wagstaff, Maja Goschorska, Kasia Kozyrska, Guillaume Duclos, Iwo Kucinski, Anatole Chessel, Lea Hampton-O'Neil, Charles R Bradshaw, George E Allen, Emma L Rawlins and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 103 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
103citing papers in PubMed
11.0field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

103 citing papers in PubMed, 216 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. The Dynamic Alliance of p53 and Metabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment Shapes Tumor Evolution.BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Endocytic Control of Cell-Autonomous and Non-Cell-Autonomous Functions of p53.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Tissue turnover and rejuvenation through mechanics.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026
    Review
  12. Imaging Cell Competition in Ex-VivoMethods and protocols · 2025
    Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Physical traits of supercompetitors in cell competition.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2025
    Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

43 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Laura WagstaffThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Maja GoschorskaThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Kasia KozyrskaThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Guillaume DuclosLaboratoire PhysicoChimie Curie, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University - Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Centre National de la recherche Scientifique - Equipe labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 75005 Paris, France.
Iwo KucinskiThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Anatole ChesselPharmacology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1326-6305
Lea Hampton-O'NeilThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Charles R BradshawThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3528-458X
George E AllenThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Emma L RawlinsThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
Pascal SilberzanLaboratoire PhysicoChimie Curie, Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University - Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Centre National de la recherche Scientifique - Equipe labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 75005 Paris, France.ORCID 0000-0002-8554-882X
Rafael E Carazo SalasPharmacology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK.
Eugenia PiddiniThe Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
University of Cambridge · GBUniversité Paris Sciences et Lettres · FR

Funding

Cancer Research UK 12460European Research Council 243283-SYSGROMedical Research Council G0900424Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cell competition is a quality control mechanism that eliminates unfit cells. How cells compete is poorly understood, but it is generally accepted that molecular exchange between cells signals elimination of unfit cells. Here we report an orthogonal mechanism of cell competition, whereby cells compete through mechanical insults. We show that MDCK cells silenced for the polarity gene scribble (scrib(KD)) are hypersensitive to compaction, that interaction with wild-type cells causes their compaction and that crowding is sufficient for scrib(KD) cell elimination. Importantly, we show that elevation of the tumour suppressor p53 is necessary and sufficient for crowding hypersensitivity. Compaction, via activation of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) and the stress kinase p38, leads to further p53 elevation, causing cell death. Thus, in addition to molecules, cells use mechanical means to compete. Given the involvement of p53, compaction hypersensitivity may be widespread among damaged cells and offers an additional route to eliminate unfit cells.

Indexed as

Cell CommunicationAnimalsApoptosisBiomechanical PhenomenaDogsDrosophilaDrosophila ProteinsMadin Darby Canine Kidney CellsMembrane Proteinsrho-Associated KinasesTumor Suppressor Protein p53Drosophila ProteinsMembrane Proteinsrho-Associated KinasesScrib protein, DrosophilaTumor Suppressor Protein p53

Identifiers

PMID27109213
PMCPMC4848481
OpenAlexW2343400020

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.