Formation of perinuclear actin structures is driven by mechanosensitivity of actin polymerization

A physics-based computational model shows that strain-dependent actin polymerization mechanosensitivity can form perinuclear actin structures after mechanical stimulation, matching experimental observations.

• Why it matters: The mechanism behind why actin polymerization concentrates near the nucleus is unclear, limiting understanding of how cells rapidly reshape nucleus morphology and position under mechanical cues.
• What they did: The authors built a model of actin network formation using a fully resolved orientational distribution of local filaments, a strain-dependent depolymerization rate, and active stress from actomyosin motors. They simulated perinuclear structure formation without assuming any preset spatial patterning of signaling molecules.
• The result: The model reproduces experimentally observed perinuclear actin structures after stimulation and predicts a re-centering force when the nucleus is displaced, quantitatively agreeing with experiments.

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