Curvature-guided chiral collective organization of myoblast tissues
Surface curvature is a fundamental geometric cue in tissue morphogenesis, yet its role in guiding collective cell organization has remained elusive. Here, we show that curvature acts as a geometric control parameter that shapes supracellular alignment and chirality while modulating myogenic differentiation in myoblast tissues. Cells cultured on curved substrates self-organize into robust helical…
Surface curvature plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization and differentiation of myoblast tissues, according to a recent study. Researchers discovered that cells grown on curved surfaces spontaneously self-assemble into helical structures, with the handedness of these helices determined by the curvature's sign. Convex surfaces foster right-handed helices, while concave surfaces generate left-handed ones.
This directional preference is rooted in a previously undocumented clockwise bias in single-cell motion linked to the helical actin cytoskeleton. A simplified theoretical model demonstrates how curvature and a chiral drive interact to dictate the alignment and inversion of tissue-scale chirality. When substrates exhibit gradients of curvature, the cells form patterned architectures while maintaining a consistent global handedness.
Notably, higher curvature correlates with delayed or suppressed myogenic differentiation, indicating that curvature also influences cellular state. These findings elucidate how intricate geometries influence the alignment, symmetry, and cellular state of living tissues.
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