Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Modelling mechanochemical coupling in optogenetically activated cell layers

The paper models mechanochemical coupling in optogenetically activated cell layers using a finite element framework to understand signal propagation and cell responses.

Matrix stress-relaxation and stiffness modulate oligodendrocyte differentiation

This study shows that viscoelastic properties of 3D hydrogels impact oligodendrocyte differentiation and function, suggesting mechanotransduction as a target for remyelination therapies.

Myocardial disarray drives metabolic inefficiency in human cardiomyocytes

This study shows that structured alignment of cardiomyocytes improves mitochondrial function and bioenergetic efficiency, highlighting the role of cellular organization in heart health.

Rapid Restoration of Cell Phenotype and Matrix Forming Capacity Following Transient Nuclear Softening

This study shows that transient nuclear softening with TSA treatment enhances cell migration and matrix formation in porcine meniscal cells, with full restoration of transcriptional phenotype and function within 7 days.

Tissue Fluidity Mediates a Trade-off Between the Speed and Accuracy of Multicellular Patterning by Cell Sorting

This paper shows that tissue fluidity regulates the speed and accuracy of adhesion-based cell sorting through a trade-off between cell motility and adhesion.

Spatial distribution of cytoskeleton-mediated feedback controls cell polarization: a computational study

This study uses computational models to investigate how feedback loops in Dictyostelium cells influence polarization, finding that global inhibition is more robust than local inhibition.

VASP regulates the polar organization of adhesion-associated actin filaments

This study shows that VASP and zyxin are required for the assembly of aligned actin bundles with uniform polarity at focal adhesions, while tropomyosin-decorated actin layers remain unaffected.

P. aeruginosa disrupts ARP-2/3 mediated apical F-actin organization to induce intestinal deformation in C. elegans

This study shows P. aeruginosa disrupts ARP-2/3-mediated apical F-actin organization in C. elegans enterocytes, causing intestinal deformation without losing epithelial integrity.

The Mechanism of Dynamic Steady States in Lamellipodia

This study uses an agent-based model to show how physical interactions in lamellipodia create and maintain a dynamic steady state with retrograde flow.

Mechanosensitive Remodeling Sustains Rigidity Homeostasis and Elastic Memory in Actin Cortex Models

This paper develops elastic network models of the actin cortex that maintain rigidity homeostasis and long-lived elastic memory through mechanosensitive dynamics.

Sonoepigenetic Modification Mechanoprimes Early Osteogenic Commitment in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

This study shows that high-frequency nanomechanostimulation induces chromatin fluctuations in mesenchymal stem cells through Ca2+ and cAMP crosstalk, promoting osteogenic commitment without osteogenic factors.

T Cells Tear Apart Confining Extracellular Matrix Via a Breaststroke-like Motion to Generate Migration Paths

This study shows T cells generate migration paths in confining ECMs by tearing them apart with breaststroke-like motion, finding that shear strength, not stiffness or pore size, correlates with migration.

Critical Cell Spacing Drives Phase Transition in Matrix-Mediated Tissue Condensation

The paper models how critical cell spacing drives a phase transition in matrix-mediated tissue condensation through mechanical feedback.

Decoupling Bulk Stiffness and Pore Size in 3D Rat Tail Collagen I Matrices

This study decouples bulk stiffness and pore size in 3D collagen matrices and shows that changes in pore size affect cell morphology despite similar mechanical conditions.

3D osteocyte networks under Pulsatile Unidirectional Fluid Flow Stimuli (PUFFS)

This study develops a microfluidic model to investigate how pulsatile fluid flow affects 3D osteocyte networks, showing mechanotransduction via calcium signals and sustained gene expression.

Topological Excitations govern Ordering Kinetics in Endothelial Cell Layers

The paper shows that topological defects and strings mediate ordering in endothelial cell layers, revealing an intermediate phase in their transition from disordered to ordered states.

Novel Tissue Mechanics-Guided Cellular Flows Enable the Evolution of Feather Follicles

The paper shows how tissue mechanics and cellular flows guide the formation of feather follicles through sequential topological transformations.

Physical traits of supercompetitors in cell competition

The paper develops a computational model to study how physical traits influence cell competition, finding that stiffer cells outcompete softer ones and that reduced stiffness with decreased contact inhibition creates super-competitive mutants.

A systematic investigation of endothelial cell behavior under hydrostatic pressure

This study investigates how static hydrostatic pressure affects HUVEC viability, morphology, and cytoskeleton adaptation using an automated high-throughput platform.

The extracellular matrix dictates ovarian cancer cell migration in an in vivo-derived circulating environment

This study shows that ovarian cancer cell migration is strongly influenced by extracellular matrix composition, with fibronectin and TGF-β synergistically enhancing migration and EMT markers.

Mechanical properties of adherent cell sheets analyzed by deflection of supporting membrane

The paper introduces a method to measure mechanical properties of cell sheets by analyzing membrane deflection, validated using keratocyte cell sheets.

Associative memory in human cancer cells

This study shows human cancer cells can be conditioned to associate an extracellular matrix component with a drug, leading to a memory-like response.

The mechanical anisotropy of adipose tissues regulates ovarian cancer invasion

This study shows that mechanical anisotropy in adipose tissues influences ovarian cancer cell migration through TGFβ-dependent mechanisms, independent of MMP activity.

Multiscale characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans mutants to probe functional mechanisms of human actin pathological variants

The paper uses C. elegans actin mutants to study human actinopathies, finding that mutation severity correlates with phenotypic defects in the worm model.

Engineered basement membrane mimetic hydrogels to study mammary epithelial morphogenesis and invasion

This paper develops an engineered basement membrane hydrogel to study mammary epithelial morphogenesis and invasion, finding that specific mechanical and biochemical properties drive invasive behavior.

Single cell migration along and against confined haptotactic gradients

This study shows cells exhibit complex migration patterns along haptotactic gradients, including oscillations and directed movement, and develops a biophysical model to explain these behaviors.

Biomechanics of stem cell fate decisions in multilayered tissues

This study develops a 3D vertex-based model to show how mechanical forces and spatial competition influence stem cell fate decisions in skin epidermis, linking cell shape to clonal dynamics in basal cell carcinoma.

Formins and Arp2/3 Reciprocally Regulate Contact Guidance on Aligned Collagen Fibrils

This study investigates how formins and Arp2/3 regulate contact guidance on aligned collagen fibrils through cytoskeletal dynamics and myosin contractility.

Nonmuscle myosin 2 turnover in cells is synergistically controlled by the tail and the motor domain

This study shows that NM2A's tail, phosphorylation sites, and motor domain synergistically enhance NM2B filament turnover and cell motility, while phosphomimetic NM2B tails only locally affect NM2B unless combined with NM2A.

Cell rearrangement progression along the apical-basal axis is linked with 3D epithelial tissue structure

The paper studies cell rearrangements along the apical-basal axis in Drosophila germband epithelium, revealing gradients in cell shape and tissue structure and the involvement of both apical and basolateral domains.