Abstract

A precise control of cell morphology is key for cell physiology, and cell shape deregulation is at the heart of many pathological disorders, including cancer. Furthermore, transitions between cellular states are often associated with changes in cell shape, and strong evidence points to the existence of feedbacks between mechanics, morphology and cell state. Cell morphology is intrinsically controlled by mechanical forces acting on the cell surface. In animal cells, cell surface mechanics are primarily determined by the cellular cortex, a thin network of actin filaments and myosin motors underlying the plasma membrane. We investigate how the mechanical properties of the cell surface arise from the microscopic organisation of the cortex, and how changes in these properties drive cell deformation. We also investigate cell shape dynamics when cells transition between different cellular states, such as during differentiation, cell division, or EMT . Using a combination of cell biology experiments, quantitative imaging and physical modelling, we aim to understand the control of cell shape across scales.