Tilt-induced clustering of cell adhesion proteins

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model explaining how tilt sensing of membrane deformation gradients can lead to clustering of cell adhesion proteins into disks and lines, aligning with experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where membrane tilt sensing drives clustering patterns of adhesion proteins, supported by theoretical and experimental consistency.

Findings

Tilt sensing induces clustering patterns in adhesion proteins.

Increasing tilt sensitivity transitions from disks to linear clusters.

The model aligns with experimental estimates of protein clustering.

Abstract

Cell adhesion proteins are transmembrane proteins that bind cells to their environment. These proteins typically cluster into disk-shaped or linear structures. Here we show that such clustering patterns spontaneously emerge when the protein sense the membrane deformation gradient, for example by reaching a lower-energy conformation when the membrane is tilted relative to the underlying binding substrate. Increasing the strength of the membrane gradient-sensing mechanism first yields isolated disk-shaped clusters and then long linear structures. Our theory is coherent with experimental estimates, suggesting that a tilt-induced clustering mechanism is relevant in the context of cell adhesion proteins.