Unveiling the physics underlying symmetry breaking of the actin cytoskeleton: An artificial cell-based approach

Single-cell behaviors cover many biological functions, such as cell division during morphogenesis and tissue metastasis, migration cancer invasion immune responses. Symmetry breaking of the positioning organelles shape are often associated with these functions. One main players in symmetry at cellular scale is actin cytoskeleton, comprising filaments myosin motors that generate contractile forces. However, because self-organization actomyosin network regulated by biochemical signaling cells, how mechanical contraction cytoskeleton induces diverse self-organized drives cell-scale remains unclear. In recent times, to understand physical underpinnings exhibited artificial models encapsulating cytoplasmic networks covered lipid monolayers have been developed. By decoupling mechanics from complex within living this system allows one study confined cell-sized spaces. We review developments physics provide future perspectives on cell-based approach. This article an extended version Japanese article, The Physical Principle Cell Migration Under Confinement: Artificial Cell-based Bottom-up Approach, published SEIBUTSU BUTSURI Vol. 63, p. 163-164 (2023).