Collective cell durotaxis emerges from long-range intercellular force transmission

The ability of cells to follow gradients of extracellular matrix stiffness-durotaxis-has been implicated in development, fibrosis, and cancer. Here, we found multicellular clusters that exhibited durotaxis even if isolated constituent cells did not. This emergent mode of directed collective cell migration applied to a variety of epithelial cell types, required the action of myosin motors, and originated from supracellular transmission of contractile physical forces. To explain the observed phenomenology, we developed a generalized clutch model in which local stick-slip dynamics of cell-matrix adhesions was integrated to the tissue level through cell-cell junctions. Collective durotaxis is far more efficient…

• EM
  European Molecular Biology Organization

  Award: EMBO ALTF 1235-2012
• FL
  Fundació la Marató de TV3

  Award: 20133330
• GD
  Generalitat de Catalunya

  Award: 2014-SGR-927
• MD
  Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad

  Awards: PI14/00280, BFU2015-65074-P, IJCI-2014-19843, BFU2011-23111, BFU2014-52586-REDT, FPI BES-2013-063684, RYC-2014-15559, DPI2013‐43727‐R, IJCI-2014-19156, DPI2015‐64221‐C2‐1‐R
• SF
  Seventh Framework Programme

  Award: PCIG10-GA-2011-303848
• HE
  H2020 European Research Council

  Awards: CoG-616480, StG 306571