Force-induced repolarization of an active crawler. (19th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Recho, Pierre; Putelat, Thibaut; Truskinovsky, Lev
• Is Part Of: New journal of physics. Volume 21:Number 3(2019:Mar.)
• Publication Date: 2019-03-19
• Subjects: cell crawling -- active gel -- active particle -- force-velocity relations -- contact inhibition of locomotion -- cell oscillations; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics; Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ab05fd
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2630

Abstract

Abstract: We develop a quantitative model of mechanical repolarization in a contraction-driven gel layer mimicking a crawling cell. We show that the force-velocity relations for such active crawlers exhibit multi-valuedness and hysteresis under both force and velocity control. The model predicts steady oscillations of cells attached to an elastic environment and offers a self-consistent mechanical explanation for all experimentally observed outcomes of cell collision tests.