Determine the molecular-to-cell-scale connection in cytoskeletal patterning

Determine the quantitative relationship linking molecular-scale processes of actin filaments and non-muscle myosin-II within the cytoskeletal network to cell-scale spatiotemporal patterns of stress generation and morphology in living cells and tissues.

Background

The paper reviews widespread occurrences of acto-myosin clusters and emphasizes their potential as mesoscopic units bridging molecular dynamics to macroscopic morphogenetic outcomes. Despite advances in imaging and theory, a clear quantitative link across scales has not been established.

Clarifying this connection would enable predictive models of morphogenesis based on measurable properties of acto-myosin clusters and could unify observations across diverse organisms and contexts.