Cell shape has long been used to discern cell phenotypes and states, but the underlying premise has not been quantitatively tested. Here, we show that a single cell image can be used to discriminate its migration behavior by analyzing a large number of cell migration data in vitro. We analyzed a large number of two-dimensional cell migration images over time and found that the cell shape variation space has only six dimensions, and migration behavior can be determined by the coordinates of a single cell image in this 6-dimensional shape-space. We further show that this is possible because persistent cell migration is characterized by spatial-temporally coordinated protrusion and contraction, and a distribution signature in the shape-space. Our findings provide a quantitative underpinning for using cell morphology to differentiate cell dynamical behavior.
Keywords: cell shape; single cell migration; spatiotemporal persistence.