How do you convert a normally motile cell, which is polarized head to tail, into a monster with either two heads or two tails? A collaboration between the groups of Marin Barisic, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, and Centre member Andrew Goryachev reports in PNAS that for this you need to tweak enzymes regulating a microtubule post-translational modification known as de-tyrosination. Image Andrew Goryachev, Professor of Computational Cell Biology. A serendipitous discovery in the lab of Prof. Barisic led to the unveiling of a novel mechanism of symmetry breaking in cells. Integration of predictive biophysical modelling and cell biology experiment shed light on the role of microtubule cytoskeleton in cellular polarization. Paper Microtubule detyrosination drives symmetry breaking to polarize cells for directed cell migration Related Links Andrew Goryachev Group Marin Barisic Group This article was published on 2024-06-17
