@article {Vaid{\v z}iulyte2021.03.20.436273, author = {Kotryna Vaid{\v z}iulyte and Anne-Sophie Mac{\'e} and Aude Battistella and William Beng and Kristine Schauer and Mathieu Coppey}, title = {Persistent cell migration emerges from a coupling between protrusion dynamics and polarized trafficking}, elocation-id = {2021.03.20.436273}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.1101/2021.03.20.436273}, publisher = {Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory}, abstract = {Migrating cells present a variety of paths, from random to highly directional ones. While random movement can be explained by basal intrinsic activity, persistent movement requires stable polarization. Here, we quantitatively address emergence of persistent migration in RPE1 cells over long timescales. By live-cell imaging and dynamic micropatterning, we demonstrate that the Nucleus-Golgi axis aligns with direction of migration leading to efficient cell movement. We show that polarized trafficking is directed towards protrusions with a 20 min delay, and that migration becomes random after disrupting internal cell organization. Eventually, we prove that localized optogenetic Cdc42 activation orients the Nucleus-Golgi axis. Our work suggests that polarized trafficking stabilizes the protrusive activity of the cell, while protrusive activity orients this polarity axis, leading to persistent cell migration. Using a minimal physical model, we show that this feedback is sufficient to recapitulate the quantitative properties of cell migration in the timescale of hours.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.}, URL = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/07/2021.03.20.436273}, eprint = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/07/2021.03.20.436273.full.pdf}, journal = {bioRxiv} }