Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30984281›Full record

ArticleNature physics2019

Large-scale curvature sensing by directional actin flow drives cellular migration mode switching.

Tianchi Chen, Andrew Callan-Jones, Eduard Fedorov, Andrea Ravasio, Agustí Brugués, Hui Ting Ong, Yusuke Toyama, Boon Chuan Low, Xavier Trepat, Tom Shemesh and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature physics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed
6.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% 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

47 citing papers in PubMed, 104 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Physical models of embryonic epithelial healing.PLoS computational biology · 2026
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  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Substrate stress relaxation regulates monolayer fluidity and leader cell formation for collectively migrating epithelia.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
    Article
  13. Article
  14. The Mechanics of Building Functional Organs.Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology · 2025
    Review
  15. A minimal physical model for curvotaxis driven by curved protein complexes at the cell's leading edge.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2024
    Article
  16. Squishy matters - Corneal mechanobiology in health and disease.Progress in retinal and eye research · 2024
    Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
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

12 authors at 7 institutions in 5 countries.

Tianchi ChenMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Andrew Callan-JonesLaboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, UMR 7057, CNRS and Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
Eduard FedorovTechnion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel.
Andrea RavasioInstitute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Agustí BruguésInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Hui Ting OngMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Yusuke ToyamaMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Boon Chuan LowMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Xavier TrepatInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Tom ShemeshTechnion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel.
Raphaël VoituriezLaboratoire Jean Perrin and Laboratoire de Physique Theorique de la Matiere Condensee, CNRS/Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Benoît LadouxMechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · FRNational University of Singapore · SGTechnion – Israel Institute of Technology · ILInstitució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats · ESInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonia · ESPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile · CLTemasek Life Sciences Laboratory · SG

Funding

European Research Council 616480European Research Council 617233
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cell migration over heterogeneous substrates during wound healing or morphogenetic processes leads to shape changes driven by different organizations of the actin cytoskeleton and by functional changes including lamellipodial protrusions and contractile actin cables. Cells distinguish between cell-sized positive and negative curvatures in their physical environment by forming protrusions at positive ones and actin cables at negative ones; however, the cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that concave edges promote polarized actin structures with actin flow directed towards the cell edge, in contrast to well-documented retrograde flow at convex edges. Anterograde flow and contractility induce a tension anisotropy gradient. A polarized actin network is formed, accompanied by a local polymerization-depolymerization gradient, together with leading-edge contractile actin cables in the front. These cables extend onto non-adherent regions while still maintaining contact with the substrate through focal adhesions. The contraction and dynamic reorganization of this actin structure allows forward movements enabling cell migration over non-adherent regions on the substrate. These versatile functional structures may help cells sense and navigate their environment by adapting to external geometric and mechanical cues.

Indexed as

actin flowbiophysical modellingcell migrationcurvature sensingmechanobiology

Identifiers

PMID30984281
PMCPMC6456019
OpenAlexW2913551921

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
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.