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arXiv · 1909.12804

Minimal model of cellular symmetry breaking

Alexander Mietke·V. Jemseena·K. Vijay Kumar·Ivo F. Sbalzarini·Frank Jülicher
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Abstract

The cell cortex, a thin film of active material assembled below the cell membrane, plays a key role in cellular symmetry breaking processes such as cell polarity establishment and cell division. Here, we present a minimal model of the self-organization of the cell cortex that is based on a hydrodynamic theory of curved active surfaces. Active stresses on this surface are regulated by a diffusing molecular species. We show that coupling of the active surface to a passive bulk fluid enables spontaneous polarization and the formation of a contractile ring on the surface via mechano-chemical instabilities. We discuss the role of external fields in guiding such pattern formation. Our work reveals that key features of cellular symmetry breaking and cell division can emerge in a minimal model via general dynamic instabilities.

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Alexander Mietke, V. Jemseena, K. Vijay Kumar, Ivo F. Sbalzarini, Frank Jülicher. 2019-09-26. Minimal model of cellular symmetry breaking. https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.12804

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