Optogenetic control of migration of contractile cells predicted by an active gel model

Abstract Cell crawling on flat substrates stems from intracellular flows of the actin cytoskeleton that are driven by both polymerization at front and myosin contractility back. Optogenetics makes it experimentally possible to spatially control contraction possibly cell migration too. Here we theoretically analyze this situation using a one-dimensional active gel model reflects property II assemble into minifilaments. Our predicts bistability between sessile motile solutions when adhesion sufficiently large in balance. We show one can switch different states realistic parameter values via optogenetic activation or inhibition contractility, agreement with recent experiments performed for neutrophils microchannels. predict required strengths initiation times, compare effects local global increases levels, alone affect direction only high strength.