Amoeboid cells undergo durotaxis with soft end polarized NMIIA

Cell migration towards stiff substrates has been coined as durotaxis and implicated in development, wound healing, and cancer, where complex interplays between immune and non-immune cells are present. Compared to the emerging mechanisms underlying the strongly adhesive mesenchymal durotaxis, little is known about whether immune cells - migrating in amoeboid mode - could follow mechanical cues. Here we develop an imaging-based confined migration device with stiffness gradient. By tracking live cell trajectory and analyzing the directionality of T cells and neutrophils, we observe that amoeboid cells can durotax. We further delineate the underlying mechanism to involve non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) polarization towards the soft-matrix-side but may not require differential actin flow up- or down-stiffness gradient. Using the protista Dictyostelium, we demonstrate the evolutionary conservation of amoeboid durotaxis. Finally, these experimental phenomena are theoretically captured by an acti..., , , # Data from: Amoeboid cells undergo durotaxis with soft end polarized NMIIA

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9h1x](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9h1x)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset contains all imaging data, plot data, and code for our paper entitled “Amoeboid cells undergo durotaxis with soft end polarized NMIIA” which is published on* eLife*. The imaging data are source data for Figure 1B, 1F, IJ, Figure 1-figure supplement 1B-D, Figure 1-figure supplement 3A, Figure 2-figure supplement 1, Figure 3B, Figure 3F, Figure 3-figure supplement 1D-E, Figure 3-figure supplement 2A, Figure 3-figure supplement 2C, Figure 4,A and Figure 5C-D. The plot data are source data for Figure 1E, 1I, IM, Figure 2A-2H, Figure 3E, 3G-H, Figure 3-figure supplement 1A, Figure 3-figure supplement 2B, Figure 3-figure supplement 2D, Figure 4D-F and Figure 6G-I. The western data are source data for Figure 3A and Figure 3-figure supplement 1B. The code data are for our activ...