Biomedical Engineering - Theses

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Computational Investigations into the Role of Membrane Tension in Cell Migration

Collette, Jared ( 2021)

Migratory cells are well understood to experience changes in membrane tension in response to chemical and mechanical stimuli. Less understood are the direct changes to intracellular signalling processes and intracellular mechanical processes involved in cell migration resulting from changes in the mechanical state of the cell. These mechanical states are important in furthering our understanding how diseases like cancer metastasis hijack these processes. This thesis explores the relationship between membrane tension and signalling processes through mechanobiological feedback. In this work, a novel mathematical technique is developed for spatiotemporal signal transduction pathways described by reaction diffusion in moving domains. Then, a new link is explored between the relationship of membrane tension and a migrating cell’s ability to adapt and maintain polarity in high and low chemo-stimulant environments. Finally, the relation between membrane tension and cell protrusion is explored in 3D through growth mechanics, allowing for a more thorough mechanical characterization of various types of 3D protrusions. This work culminates into furthering our understanding of the role of membrane tension in migratory cell processes and provides more insights and knowledge useful in the development of new therapeutics and treatments.