Directing Min protein patterns with advective bulk flow

Sabrina Meindlhumer, Fridtjof Brauns, Jernej Rudi Finžgar, Jacob Kerssemakers, Cees Dekker and Erwin Frey ()
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Sabrina Meindlhumer: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology
Fridtjof Brauns: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Jernej Rudi Finžgar: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Jacob Kerssemakers: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology
Cees Dekker: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology
Erwin Frey: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The Min proteins constitute the best-studied model system for pattern formation in cell biology. We theoretically predict and experimentally show that the propagation direction of in vitro Min protein patterns can be controlled by a hydrodynamic flow of the bulk solution. We find downstream propagation of Min wave patterns for low MinE:MinD concentration ratios, upstream propagation for large ratios, but multistability of both propagation directions in between. Whereas downstream propagation can be described by a minimal model that disregards MinE conformational switching, upstream propagation can be reproduced by a reduced switch model, where increased MinD bulk concentrations on the upstream side promote protein attachment. Our study demonstrates that a differential flow, where bulk flow advects protein concentrations in the bulk, but not on the surface, can control surface-pattern propagation. This suggests that flow can be used to probe molecular features and to constrain mathematical models for pattern-forming systems.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35997-0

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