article published yes Daniel R Boocock author 453AF628-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-1585-2631 Naoya Hino author Natalia Ruzickova author D2761128-D73D-11E9-A1BF-BA0DE6697425 Tsuyoshi Hirashima author Edouard B Hannezo author 3A9DB764-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0001-6005-1561 EdHa department Active mechano-chemical description of the cell cytoskeleton project Design Principles of Branching Morphogenesis project International IST Doctoral Program project Collective cell migration offers a rich field of study for non-equilibrium physics and cellular biology, revealing phenomena such as glassy dynamics, pattern formation and active turbulence. However, how mechanical and chemical signalling are integrated at the cellular level to give rise to such collective behaviours remains unclear. We address this by focusing on the highly conserved phenomenon of spatiotemporal waves of density and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, which appear both in vitro and in vivo during collective cell migration and wound healing. First, we propose a biophysical theory, backed by mechanical and optogenetic perturbation experiments, showing that patterns can be quantitatively explained by a mechanochemical coupling between active cellular tensions and the mechanosensitive ERK pathway. Next, we demonstrate how this biophysical mechanism can robustly induce long-ranged order and migration in a desired orientation, and we determine the theoretically optimal wavelength and period for inducing maximal migration towards free edges, which fits well with experimentally observed dynamics. We thereby provide a bridge between the biophysical origin of spatiotemporal instabilities and the design principles of robust and efficient long-ranged migration. Springer Nature2021 eng 1745-2473 1745-2481 00057351950000210.1038/s41567-020-01037-7 17267-274 https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/record/12964 https://ist.ac.at/en/news/wound-healing-waves/ Boocock, Daniel R, Naoya Hino, Natalia Ruzickova, Tsuyoshi Hirashima, and Edouard B Hannezo. “Theory of Mechanochemical Patterning and Optimal Migration in Cell Monolayers.” <i>Nature Physics</i>. Springer Nature, 2021. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7</a>. Boocock DR, Hino N, Ruzickova N, Hirashima T, Hannezo EB. 2021. Theory of mechanochemical patterning and optimal migration in cell monolayers. Nature Physics. 17, 267–274. D. R. Boocock, N. Hino, N. Ruzickova, T. Hirashima, and E. B. Hannezo, “Theory of mechanochemical patterning and optimal migration in cell monolayers,” <i>Nature Physics</i>, vol. 17. Springer Nature, pp. 267–274, 2021. D.R. Boocock, N. Hino, N. Ruzickova, T. Hirashima, E.B. Hannezo, Nature Physics 17 (2021) 267–274. Boocock DR, Hino N, Ruzickova N, Hirashima T, Hannezo EB. Theory of mechanochemical patterning and optimal migration in cell monolayers. <i>Nature Physics</i>. 2021;17:267-274. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7">10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7</a> Boocock, D. R., Hino, N., Ruzickova, N., Hirashima, T., &#38; Hannezo, E. B. (2021). Theory of mechanochemical patterning and optimal migration in cell monolayers. <i>Nature Physics</i>. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7</a> Boocock, Daniel R., et al. “Theory of Mechanochemical Patterning and Optimal Migration in Cell Monolayers.” <i>Nature Physics</i>, vol. 17, Springer Nature, 2021, pp. 267–74, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7">10.1038/s41567-020-01037-7</a>. 86022020-10-04T22:01:37Z2026-08-12T22:30:04Z