The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells

article The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells published yes Yohalie Kalukula author Marine Luciano author Gleb Simanov author Guillaume Charras author David Brückner author e1e86031-6537-11eb-953a-f7ab92be508d0000-0001-7205-2975 Sylvain Gabriele author EdHa department A mechano-chemical theory for stem cell fate decisions in organoid development project Cell migration in narrow microenvironments occurs in numerous physiological processes. It involves successive cycles of confinement and release that drive important morphological changes. However, it remains unclear whether migrating cells can retain a memory of their past morphological states that could potentially facilitate their navigation through confined spaces. We demonstrate that local geometry governs a switch between two cell morphologies, thereby facilitating cell passage through long and narrow gaps. We combined cell migration assays on standardized microsystems with biophysical modelling and biochemical perturbations to show that migrating cells have a long-term memory of past confinement events. The morphological cell states correlate across transitions through actin cortex remodelling. These findings indicate that mechanical memory in migrating cells plays an active role in their migratory potential in confined environments. Springer Nature2025 eng Nature Physics 1745-2473 1745-2481 00155601940000110.1038/s41567-025-02980-z 211451-1461 Kalukula Y, Luciano M, Simanov G, Charras G, Brückner D, Gabriele S. 2025. The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells. Nature Physics. 21, 1451–1461. Kalukula Y, Luciano M, Simanov G, Charras G, Brückner D, Gabriele S. The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells. Nature Physics. 2025;21:1451-1461. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z">10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z</a> Kalukula, Yohalie, et al. “The Actin Cortex Acts as a Mechanical Memory of Morphology in Confined Migrating Cells.” Nature Physics, vol. 21, Springer Nature, 2025, pp. 1451–61, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z">10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z</a>. Kalukula, Yohalie, Marine Luciano, Gleb Simanov, Guillaume Charras, David Brückner, and Sylvain Gabriele. “The Actin Cortex Acts as a Mechanical Memory of Morphology in Confined Migrating Cells.” Nature Physics. Springer Nature, 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z</a>. Y. Kalukula, M. Luciano, G. Simanov, G. Charras, D. Brückner, and S. Gabriele, “The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells,” Nature Physics, vol. 21. Springer Nature, pp. 1451–1461, 2025. Y. Kalukula, M. Luciano, G. Simanov, G. Charras, D. Brückner, S. Gabriele, Nature Physics 21 (2025) 1451–1461. Kalukula, Y., Luciano, M., Simanov, G., Charras, G., Brückner, D., & Gabriele, S. (2025). The actin cortex acts as a mechanical memory of morphology in confined migrating cells. Nature Physics. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02980-z</a> 202592025-08-31T22:01:33Z2025-12-30T09:34:11Z