Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Matrix stiffening toolbox: dynamic hydrogels for three-dimensional cell culture with real-time cell response

This paper introduces a dynamic hydrogel platform to study cell responses to matrix stiffening, showing increased alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and altered fibroblast motility during early fibrosis.

A Conserved Geometric Code: Extracellular Matrix Curvature Directs Cell Migration Strategy via Nuclear Mechanosensing

The paper shows ECM curvature directs cell migration through nuclear mechanosensing, revealing a geometric code influencing migration strategy and metastasis.

Ultrasound-cell interactions mediated by cell cortex biomechanics

This study investigates how ultrasound interacts with cells, showing that cell cortex biomechanics influence ultrasound-induced calcium responses in NIH3T3 fibroblasts.

Physiomimetic culture bias durotaxis toward soft environments

This study shows that cell migration direction (durotaxis) can be reversed by culturing cells in soft 3D environments, revealing it is influenced by culture conditions rather than being intrinsic.

Nondimensional nucleus shape parameters reveal mechanostasis during confined migration

The paper uses nondimensional nucleus shape parameters to infer molecular changes during confined cell migration, revealing mechanostasis in response to confinement.

From Sensor Design to Force Maps: A Systematic Evaluation of FRET-based Vinculin Tension Sensors

The paper evaluates FRET-based vinculin tension sensors to determine optimal design parameters for measuring molecular forces in cells.

Transient contractility attenuation followed by recovery reprograms epithelial cells into a protrusion-driven state that drives tissue fluidization

The paper shows that transient contractility attenuation and recovery reprograms epithelial cells into a protrusion-driven state that fluidizes tissues.

Extracellular matrix rigidity controls breast cancer metastasis via TYK2-mediated mechanotransduction

This study shows that TYK2 suppresses breast cancer metastasis under low ECM stiffness by promoting EMT, and its localization changes with ECM rigidity.

βII and βIII spectrin paralogues define robustness and specialization of the neuronal membrane periodic skeleton

The paper shows that βII and βIII spectrin paralogues form a dual system in the dendritic MPS, with structural redundancy and paralogue-specific regulation.

Capping protein regulates the balance of assembly among diverse actin networks in C. elegans zygotes

The paper shows capping protein regulates actin network assembly balance in C. elegans zygotes by modulating competition between filopodia and mini-comets.

Shear Stress Induces Concentration Gradient Distributions of Membrane Proteins in Live Cells

The paper shows that shear stress creates concentration gradients of membrane proteins in live cells, suggesting a mechanism for flow sensing.

Anisotropic Cell Shape and Motion Coordinate Hindbrain Neuropore Morphogenesis

This study shows that local anisotropic stress and cytoskeletal organization, rather than actomyosin purse-string contraction, drive cell shape and motion during hindbrain neuropore closure in mouse embryos.

Nucleus confinement within concave microcavities modulates nuclear morphology, subnuclear dynamics and mechanotransduction in human osteosarcoma cells

Cells dynamically adapt their nuclear volumes and proliferation rates during single to multicellular transitions

This study shows that cancer cells adjust their nuclear volumes and proliferation rates during transitions between single and multicellular states in tumor spheroids.

Mechanotherapeutic Potential of Survivin in Glioblastoma

This study identifies survivin as a mechanosensitive regulator linking ECM stiffness to GBM growth and matrisome remodeling, suggesting it as a therapeutic target.

Non-Equilibrium Spatial Encoding of Nanoscale Mechanical Relaxation in Growing Plant Epithelial cells

The paper introduces a physics-based framework to convert AFM measurements into spatially resolved mechanical properties of plant cell walls, revealing how nanoscale mechanical relaxation relates to tissue-scale growth.

Logic of optimal collective migration in heterogeneous tissues

The paper shows that optimal collective migration in heterogeneous tissues occurs at intermediate adhesion strength, validated through vertex models and zebrafish experiments.

Computational Design for Engineering Layered Tissue Architectures via Cell-Cell Interfacial Tension Modulation

This study computationally designs layered tissue architectures by modulating cell-cell interfacial tension, showing how tension variations can generate structured multilayers and hierarchical organization.

FraCeMM - A Framework for Cell-Matrix Mechanotransduction

This paper introduces a physics-based simulation framework that models cell-matrix mechanotransduction and reproduces key mechanobiological behaviors without external directional cues.

Filament-resolved simulations reproduce self-organization of lamellipodia and filopodia

The paper develops a filament-resolved model of actin self-organization, showing how Arp2/3 and fascin concentrations determine lamellipodia, filopodia, and reticulated meshwork morphologies.

Plastin-3 membrane recruitment drives cell-in-cell invasion during entosis

This study identifies Plastin-3 membrane recruitment as a critical step driven by ROCK1 activation in the entosis process.

Scrib organizes cortical actomyosin clusters to maintain adherens junctions and angiogenic sprouting

The paper identifies Scrib's role in organizing cortical actomyosin clusters to stabilize adherens junctions and support angiogenic sprouting.

Biomechanical 3D tumor models on a micro-milled high-throughput force sensor array

This paper introduces a 3D tumor model with a high-throughput biomechanical sensor array to better mimic tumor biology and drug responses compared to 2D cultures.

In silico neuritogenesis model underpins mechanical interactionswith extracellular matrix as determinants of persistent axonal growthin stiffer microenvironments

The paper presents an in silico model of neurite growth that simulates interactions with the extracellular matrix, showing that stiffer environments promote more persistent axonal growth.

Theca cell mechanosensing and regulation of follicular extracellular matrix during ovarian follicle development

This study investigates how theca cell mechanosensing and extracellular matrix properties regulate ovarian follicle development in mice.

Mechanistic interpretation of biological tissue growth experiments with a computational model

This paper presents a computational model to simulate tissue growth by integrating geometry, mechanics, and stochastic processes, demonstrating its application to 3D-printed scaffolds and bone formation in cortical pores.

Spatially Distinct Myosin II Architectures Regulate Protrusion Dynamics and Directional Persistence during Immune Cell Migration

This study identifies two spatially distinct myosin II architectures in neutrophils that coordinate protrusion dynamics and directional persistence during migration.

An oxo-mechanical coupling determines cell state

This study shows that oxygen and mechanical cues interact to define distinct cellular states in 3D environments through a reciprocal regulatory coupling.

Anti-Buoyancy Trap for Long-Term Quantitative Density Profiling of Adipocyte Spheroids

The paper quantifies density changes in adipocyte spheroids over time and introduces an anti-buoyancy trap to enable long-term, reproducible analysis of their physical properties.

Drosophila germ band extension: a two-state reshaping mechanism

The paper investigates Drosophila germ-band extension, revealing a two-state mechanism where the anterior tissue behaves fluid-like and the posterior behaves solid-like, enabling efficient reshaping.