Fig. 4.

Nuclei limit cell migration through constricted spaces. Schematic of an experiment that uses fabricated constrictions and in which a cell is induced to migrate towards a chemoattractant through a constricted space. (Left) Wild-type cells (blue) migrate through constricted spaces at a given rate that is influenced by the composition and stiffness of the nucleus (light blue) . (Middle) Upon overexpression of lamin A (red), nuclei become stiffer and less deformable, resulting in slower migration of cells through constricted spaces. (Right) By contrast, knockdown of lamin A reduces nuclear stiffness and increases their deformability, allowing cells to squeeze more easily through a constricted space than wild-type cells (right panel).