Control of protein-based pattern formation via guiding cues

Proteins control many vital functions in living cells, such as cell growth and cell division. Reliable coordination of these functions requires the spatial and temporal organizaton of proteins inside cells, which encodes information about the cells geometry and the cell-cycle stage. Such protein patterns arise from protein transport and reaction kinetics, and they can be controlled by various guiding cues within the cell. Here, we review how protein patterns are guided by cell size and shape, by other protein patterns that act as templates, and by the mechanical properties of the cell. The basic mechanisms of guided pattern formation are elucidated with reference to recent observations in various biological model organisms. We posit that understanding the controlled formation of protein patterns in cells will be an essential part of understanding information processing in living systems.