Cells have evolved multiple mechanisms to apprehend and adapt finely to their environment. Here we report a new cellular ability, which we term “curvotaxis” that enables the cells to respond to cell-scale curvature variations, a ubiquitous trait of cellular biotopes. We develop ultra-smooth sinusoidal surfaces presenting modulations of curvature in all directions, and monitor cell behavior on these topographic landscapes. We show that adherent cells avoid convex regions during their migration and position themselves in concave valleys. Live imaging combined with functional analysis shows that curvotaxis relies on a dynamic interplay between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton—the nucleus acting as a mechanical sensor that leads the migrating cell toward concave curvatures. Further analyses show that substratum curvature affects focal adhesions organization and dynamics, nuclear shape, and gene expression. Altogether, this work identifies curvotaxis as a new cellular guiding mechanism and promotes cell-scale curvature as an essential physical cue.

The proper integration of biophysical cues from the cell vicinity is crucial for cells to maintain homeostasis, cooperate with other cells within the tissues, and properly fulfill their biological function. It is therefore crucial to fully understand how cells integrate these extracellular signals for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Topography has emerged as a prominent component of the cellular microenvironment that has pleiotropic effects on cell behavior. This progress report focuses on the recent advances in the understanding of the topography sensing mechanism with a special emphasis on the role of the nucleus. Here, recent techniques developed for monitoring the nuclear mechanics are reviewed and the impact of various topographies and their consequences on nuclear organization, gene regulation, and stem cell fate is summarized. The role of the cell nucleus as a sensor of cell-scale topography is further discussed.

Cell deformation occurs in many critical biological processes, including cell extravasation during immune response and cancer metastasis. These cells deform the nucleus, its largest and stiffest organelle, while passing through narrow constrictions in vivo and the underlying mechanisms still remain elusive. It is unclear which biochemical actors are responsible and whether the nucleus is pushed or pulled (or both) during deformation. Herein we use an easily-tunable poly-L-lactic acid micropillar topography, mimicking in vivo constrictions to determine the mechanisms responsible for nucleus deformation. Using biochemical tools, we determine that actomyosin contractility, vimentin and nucleo-cytoskeletal connections play essential roles in nuclear deformation, but not A-type lamins. We chemically tune the adhesiveness of the micropillars to show that pulling forces are predominantly responsible for the deformation of the nucleus. We confirm these results using an in silico cell model and propose a comprehensive mechanism for cellular and nuclear deformation during confinement. These results indicate that microstructured biomaterials are extremely versatile tools to understand how forces are exerted in biological systems and can be useful to dissect and mimic complex in vivo behaviour.