Reply to comment on “Polymerization, bending, tension: What happens at the leading edge of motile cells?” by Falko Ziebert and Igor S. Aranson

Abstract

We are grateful to Falko Ziebert and Igor Aranson, who continue with their comment on our publication [5] a discussion on modelling concepts. Ziebert and Aranson present in their contribution to this volume [14] a model concept for cell motility and morphodynamics focusing on gel flow and its determinants. This type of models is particularly useful for describing slow dynamics on the length scale of the whole cell and modelling of cell shape [1,8,11,13,14]. Our approach is set apart from the gel models by taking into account a weakly cross-linked F-actin network region close to the location of polymerization in the lamellipodia of motile cells (semi-flexible region) in addition to the gel in the bulk. This addition explains a variety of non-linear dynamic regimes in cellular and reconstituted systems, and the force-velocity relation of fish keratocytes. Ziebert and Aranson point out in their comment that 1) a more detailed modelling of gel processes may be required to capture large cell deformations, 2) the dynamics of adhesion strength and distribution may be relevant for understanding the relation between cell shape, the dynamic regime of motion and cell velocity, 3) coarse grained models may allow for unifying both concepts, and 4) fluctuations are important in morphodynamics.