Curvature-guided chiral collective organization of myoblast tissues

Abstract Surface curvature is a fundamental geometric cue in tissue morphogenesis, yet its role in guiding collective cell organization has remained elusive. Here, we show that curvature acts as a geometric control parameter that shapes supracellular alignment and chirality while modulating myogenic differentiation in myoblast tissues. Cells cultured on curved substrates self-organize into robust helical assemblies whose handedness is set, and can be reversed, by the sign of curvature: convex fibers produce right-handed helices, whereas concave channels invert the chirality. We identify a previously hidden clockwise bias in single-cell motion associated with the helical actin cytoskeleton. A minimal continuum theory coupling an effective chiral drive to curvature quantitatively captures the emergence and reversal of tissue-scale chiral alignment. On substrates with spatially varying curvature, local curvature gradients organize patterned multicellular architectures while preserving a global handedness. Curvature is also associated with myogenic state, with higher curvature linked to reduced or delayed differentiation. Together, these findings reveal how complex geometries shape the alignment, symmetry, and cellular state of living tissues. Significance statement Tissues develop on curved surfaces, yet it remains unclear how curvature shapes collective cell organization and function. We show that curvature can reliably control multicellular chirality, reversing the handedness of helical cell assemblies when surfaces switch from convex to concave. This geometric control extends to more complex curvature landscapes, which pattern distinct multicellular architectures. Curvature-driven order arises from coupling between local geometry and an intrinsic, actin-dependent clockwise bias in single-cell motion, revealing a route for chirality transfer across scales. Beyond organizing tissues, higher curvature is associated with reduced or delayed myogenic differentiation. Together, these results identify surface geometry as a design parameter for guiding tissue organization and influencing cellular state, with implications for morphogenesis and biomaterial design.