中国物理B ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (8): 88705-088705.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/adcd44

所属专题： SPECIAL TOPIC — A celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Birth of Bolin Hao

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Role of active stress and actin alignment in cell division: A hydrodynamic perspective

Kunhao Dong(董堃昊)1,†, Menglong Feng(冯梦龙)1,†, and Rui Ma(马锐)2,‡   

  1. 1 Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
    2 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
  • 收稿日期:2025-02-23 修回日期:2025-04-01 接受日期:2025-04-16 出版日期:2025-07-17 发布日期:2025-07-17
  • 通讯作者: Rui Ma E-mail:ruima@xmu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    We acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12474199) and the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of China (Grant No. 20720240144), and 111 Project (B16029).

Role of active stress and actin alignment in cell division: A hydrodynamic perspective

Kunhao Dong(董堃昊)1,†, Menglong Feng(冯梦龙)1,†, and Rui Ma(马锐)2,‡   

  1. 1 Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
    2 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
  • Received:2025-02-23 Revised:2025-04-01 Accepted:2025-04-16 Online:2025-07-17 Published:2025-07-17
  • Contact: Rui Ma E-mail:ruima@xmu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    We acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12474199) and the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of China (Grant No. 20720240144), and 111 Project (B16029).

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摘要： Cell division is a fundamental biological process in which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells. The cell cortex, a thin layer primarily composed of actin filaments and myosin motors beneath the plasma membrane, plays a critical role in ensuring proper cell division. In this study, we apply a hydrodynamic model to describe the actin cortex as an active nematic surface, incorporating orientational order arising from actin filament alignment and anisotropic active stress produced by myosin motors. By analyzing the linearized dynamics, we investigate how shape, flow, and stress regulators evolve over time when the surface deviates slightly from a sphere. Our findings reveal that the active alignment of actin filaments, often overlooked in previous studies, is crucial for successful division. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a cortical chiral flow naturally emerges as a consequence of this active alignment. Overall, our results provide a mechanistic explanation for key phenomena observed during cell division, offering new insights into the role of active stress and filament alignment in cortical dynamics.

关键词: cell division, actin cortex, nematic surface, chiral flow

Abstract: Cell division is a fundamental biological process in which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells. The cell cortex, a thin layer primarily composed of actin filaments and myosin motors beneath the plasma membrane, plays a critical role in ensuring proper cell division. In this study, we apply a hydrodynamic model to describe the actin cortex as an active nematic surface, incorporating orientational order arising from actin filament alignment and anisotropic active stress produced by myosin motors. By analyzing the linearized dynamics, we investigate how shape, flow, and stress regulators evolve over time when the surface deviates slightly from a sphere. Our findings reveal that the active alignment of actin filaments, often overlooked in previous studies, is crucial for successful division. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a cortical chiral flow naturally emerges as a consequence of this active alignment. Overall, our results provide a mechanistic explanation for key phenomena observed during cell division, offering new insights into the role of active stress and filament alignment in cortical dynamics.

Key words: cell division, actin cortex, nematic surface, chiral flow

中图分类号:  (Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles)

  • 87.16.D-
87.16.Ka (Filaments, microtubules, their networks, and supramolecular assemblies) 87.17.Ee (Growth and division) 87.17.Pq (Morphogenesis ?)