Cell Segregation by Cortex Contraction

Cell cortex contraction is essential for cellular morphogenesis, enabling critical processes such as motility, division, and responding to mechanical signals— functions fundamental to multicellular systems. While existing simulations of cell segregation have successfully captured mechanisms like differential adhesion and velocity variations, traditional modeling approaches (e.g., Vertex models, Potts models, or finite difference methods) remain limited by their inability to distinguish membrane tension from intercellular adhesion effects. Consequently, these frameworks cannot demonstrate the potential role of differential cortical contraction in driving segregation. Here, we introduce an active-particle ring model where intercellular interactions are mediated by differential contraction. We demonstrate that this mechanism alone can induce segregation, with the activity of rings serving as an effective temperature-like parameter.

This work was supported by Conselho Nac. Des. Cient. Tecnologico (CNPq
#443517/2023-1).