How Cells Feel Their Shape and Move
Source: https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/science/2026/01/07/how-cells-feel-their-shape-and-move/ Parent: https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/science/
by Yvonne Teo | Jan 7, 2026 | Biology, People, School of Biological Sciences
Yet another exciting research achievement to kick-start 2026!
Cells in our bodies are constantly moving, changing shape, and adapting to their environment – whether they are helping heal wounds, fighting infections, or dividing to form new tissues. But how do cells know where to build their internal skeleton to move and change shape efficiently?
A team of researchers from the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) and interdisciplinary collaborators has uncovered a key piece of this puzzle: the very shape of a cell’s membrane helps guide where essential proteins assemble to form the cell’s structural scaffolding. Their discovery, recently published in The EMBO Journal, sheds light on the mechanics of cell movement and morphogenesis at the nanoscale.
The Science: Membrane Curvature Controls Actin Remodeling
Cell morphogenesis requires dynamic membrane remodeling, including localized changes in membrane curvature over time during processes such as endocytosis, migration, and membrane waving. However, the mechanisms by which these spatiotemporally controlled membrane deformations are coordinated with essential local actin polymerization and dynamic remodeling remain unclear. While GTPases like Cdc42 are known as global regulators at the leading edge – activating actin polymerization by binding to the Arp2/3 nucleation-promoting factor WASP – it is still unclear how localized actin polymerization is precisely achieved at different nanoscale membrane-bending sites. Additionally, although BAR proteins and N-WASP have been linked to curvature sensing and actin assembly, the relationship between curvature magnitude and localized nucleation has not been clearly defined in terms of its spatiotemporal mechanisms.
Recently, an interdisciplinary team from NTU and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) tackled this long-standing question. The study combined advanced imaging, lab experiments, nanoscale engineering, and mathematical modeling to explore how cells control the building of their internal skeleton. Leading the effort from NTU’s School of Biological Sciences (SBS) were Assoc. Prof. Miao Yansong and Dr. Zhu Kexin from his lab, with Dr. Zhu as the first author. The research also involved Asst. Prof. Zhao Wenting from NTU’s School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB), as well as collaborators from UCSD’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, including Prof. Padmini Rangamani. Dr. Aravind Chandrasekaran and Mr. Guo Xiangfu contributed as co-first authors, and Dr. Miao Xinwen also participated in the study. Their work provides important mechanistic insights into how membrane geometry drives localized actin assembly.
The Discovery: Curvature Drives Protein Clustering
Using curvature-defined nanoarrays and inducing in situ curvature in living cells, the team demonstrated that FBP17 preferentially associates with highly curved regions and promotes N-WASP clustering, while Cdc42 enhances recruitment at lower curvature. These observations indicate that membrane geometry can modulate the spatial distribution and activity of nucleation components, contributing to localized actin polymerization.
The interdisciplinary research demonstrates how local membrane curvature guides actin polymerization in a curvature-radius-dependent manner. This precisely complements global Cdc42-based actin polymerization to enable accurate membrane morphogenesis for cell behaviours in time and space.
Why This Matters: Impact and Future Directions
This breakthrough provides a deeper understanding of how cells coordinate complex behaviours in space and time, with potential implications for developmental biology, tissue engineering, and diseases where cell movement goes awry. It also highlights the power of interdisciplinary research in uncovering the fundamental rules of life at the cellular level.
Congratulations to Assoc. Prof. Miao Yansong, Dr. Zhu Kexin, and the SBS team, alongside all collaborators, for this outstanding achievement. Their work is a shining example of NTU researchers advancing knowledge at the cutting edge of cell biology.
Read the full paper here.