Cell movements and traction forces during the migration of 2-dimensional Dictyostelium slugs

摘要

Migration of Dictyostelium discoidem slugs results from complex coordinated movements and traction forces of its constituent cells. In this work, we show that two-dimensional (2D) slugs are good models for slug mobility studies. They share most of the properties of 3D slugs but are more suitable for microscopy. We performed observations of substrate deformations during 2D slug migration. Traction forces on elastic substrates exerted by the cells are maximal in the central prestore region and absent in the anterior prestalk region.