Lateral membrane waves constitute a universal dynamic pattern of motile cells.

Journal article

We have monitored active movements of the cell circumference on specifically coated substrates for a variety of cells including mouse embryonic fibroblasts and T cells, as well as wing disk cells from fruit flies. Despite having different functions and being from multiple phyla, these cell types share a common spatiotemporal pattern in their normal membrane velocity; we show that protrusion and retraction events are organized in lateral waves along the cell membrane. These wave patterns indic...

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Authors: Döbereiner, H; Dubin-Thaler, B; Hofman, J; Xenias, H; Sims, T

• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 97
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 038102
• Publication date: 2006-07-20
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.97.038102
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English
• Keywords: Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Cell Membrane; Gels; T-Lymphocytes; Mice; Models, Biological; Fibroblasts; Actomyosin; Cell Movement; Time Factors