Energetic convenience of cell division in biological tissues

A typical feature of living tissues is proliferation by division: it is a fundamental aspect of many biological processes, including embryonic development, morphogenesis, and cancer growth. Here, we study the energetics of cell division occurring in epithelia, highlighting the interplay of the key parameters ruling mitosis. We find the existence of a region, in the parameter space, which is independent of the cell elasticity and weakly dependent on the ratio between mother and daughter cells areas. In this region, cell division is energetically favorable. Our results may lead to an exact characterization of cells having anomalous proliferation.

Automated summary

This study investigates the energetics of cell division in epithelia and highlights the interplay of key parameters regulating mitosis. It demonstrates the existence of an energetically favorable region in the parameter space, independent of cell elasticity and weakly dependent on the ratio between mother and daughter cell areas. These findings may lead to an accurate characterization of cells with anomalous proliferation.