Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Simulating big mechanically-active culture systems (BigMACS) using paired biomechanics-histology FEA modelling to derive mechanobiology design relationships.

This study introduces a biomechanics-histology FEA framework to simulate BigMACS and derive mechanobiology design relationships for controlling cell behavior and tissue patterning.

Stress anisotropy in 3D active curved structures

This paper develops a continuum framework to study stress anisotropy in 3D curved biological layers, showing how curvature and cell mechanics lead to irregular cellular shapes like scutoids.

Spatial patterning of contractility by a mechanogen gradient underlies Drosophila gastrulation

The paper shows that a mechanogen gradient controls contractility during Drosophila gastrulation by regulating actomyosin contractility through Fog signaling.

Matrix maturation and cytoskeletal tension define strain thresholds for stretch-induced calcium signaling in human tendon cells

This study shows that ECM maturation and cytoskeletal tension determine the strain threshold for stretch-induced calcium signaling in human tendon cells.

Substrate stress relaxation regulates monolayer fluidity and leader cell formation for collectively migrating epithelia.

This study shows that epithelial monolayers migrate faster on viscoelastic substrates with slower stress relaxation, due to increased fluidity and leader cell formation.

Actin cytoskeletal remodeling requires the interaction between Solo and LARG in response to substrate stiffness

The paper investigates the interaction between Solo and LARG in response to substrate stiffness and finds that this interaction is required for actin polymerization.

Small Accelerations of the cell generate sufficient nuclear motion to modulate transcriptional activity, driving cellular response independent of matrix strain

This study shows that low-intensity vibrations cause nuclear motion and cytoskeletal changes in mesenchymal stem cells, independent of matrix strain, leading to transcriptional activation.

Strain softening and hysteresis arising from 3D multicellular dynamics during long-term large deformation

This study develops a 3D vertex model to analyze multicellular tissue mechanics, revealing strain softening and hysteresis during large deformations.

The Drosophila SPECC1L homolog, Split Discs, co-localizes with non-muscle myosin II and regulates focal adhesion dynamics.

This study identifies Spdi, the Drosophila homolog of SPECC1L, as a non-muscle myosin II binding protein that regulates focal adhesion dynamics, linking its dysfunction to cranial neural crest cell migration defects.

Cell deformations generated by dynamic cortical actin waves drive in vivo swimming migration

This study shows that Drosophila fat body cells use dynamic actomyosin waves for swimming migration in vivo, driven by RhoGTPases and involving cell elongation and deformation.

Genetically encoded reporters of actin filament organization in living cells and tissues

This paper develops genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to quantify actin filament organization in living cells and tissues using fluorescence polarization microscopy.

Mechanical Stress dissipation in locally folded epithelia is orchestrated by calcium waves and nuclear tension changes

The paper investigates how mechanical stress is dissipated in folded epithelia, revealing that calcium waves and nuclear tension changes coordinate this process.

NHSL3 interacts with Ena/VASP proteins and the Scar/WAVE complex and promotes cell migration.

This study identifies NHSL3 as a regulator of actin dynamics by interacting with Ena/VASP proteins and the Scar/WAVE complex, inhibiting Arp2/3 activity to promote cell migration.

Shape stabilization in budding intestinal organoids by geometrical ratcheting

This study uses 3D reconstructions and simulations to show that geometrical ratcheting stabilizes the shape of budding intestinal organoids through changes in tension and actomyosin reorganization.

Cell-sheet shape transformation by internally-driven, oriented forces

This study demonstrates how oriented cell arrangements can drive controlled shape transformations in reconstituted matrices through directed forces and anisotropic remodeling.

Atomic Force Microscopy reveals differences in mechanical properties linked to cortical structure in mouse and human oocytes

The paper uses Atomic Force Microscopy to analyze mechanical properties of mouse and human oocytes, showing differences in stiffness linked to cortical structure and maternal age effects.

Elevated hydrostatic pressure acts via piezo-1 to destabilise VE-cadherin junctions: an endothelium-on-chip study

This study shows elevated hydrostatic pressure affects VE-cadherin junctions via piezo-1, with effects dependent on shear stress duration and intensity.

Modelling how lamellipodia-driven cells maintain persistent migration and interact with external barriers

The paper models cell migration by coupling polarity cues to actin dynamics, showing how long-range inhibition stabilizes motility and explains cellular dynamics.

Profilin promotes lamellipodium protrusion by tuning the antagonistic activities of CP and VASP

This study investigates how profilin regulates lamellipodium protrusion by modulating the interactions between the Arp2/3 complex, capping protein, and Ena/VASP proteins.

The SH3BGRL protein family nucleates and caps actin filaments via its conserved thioredoxin fold

This study identifies SH3BGRL proteins as non-enzymatic regulators of actin dynamics, promoting nucleation and inhibiting depolymerization through their thioredoxin fold structure.

Excitability and travelling waves in renewable active matter

This study investigates mechanical excitability in renewable active matter, showing that activity and turnover generate travelling waves and spatiotemporal chaos in systems like the cell cytoskeleton.

Cluster Formation and Phase Separation Driven by Mobile Myosin Motors in the Motility Assay

This study simulates the motility assay with mobile myosin motors and shows that F-actin clusters form with polar ordering and phase separation, dependent on actin length and concentration.

Degradability tunes ECM stress relaxation and cellular mechanics

This paper shows that matrix degradability affects stress relaxation and cellular mechanics by altering cell spreading and focal adhesions through MMP action.

Membrane-associated polymerases deliver most of the actin subunits to a lamellipodial network

The paper shows that most actin subunits in lamellipodial networks come from membrane-associated polymerases, not directly from solution.

Regulation of plasma membrane tension through hydrostatic pressure and actin protrusion forces

This study investigates how mitotic cells regulate plasma membrane tension using FliptR sensors and AFM measurements, revealing two actin-driven mechanisms involving hydrostatic pressure and protrusion forces.

Mechanical control of the splicing factor PTBP1 regulates extracellular matrix stiffness-induced cell proliferation and mechanomemory

This study identifies PTBP1 as a mechanotransducer that regulates cell proliferation and mechanomemory through mechanosensitive splicing of Numb in response to extracellular matrix stiffness.

Mechanical evolution of metastatic cancer cells in three-dimensional microenvironment

This study uses optical Brillouin microscopy to analyze mechanical features of cancer spheroids over time, showing improved classification accuracy using these features.

Nuclear size-regulated emergence of topological packing order on growing human lung alveolospheres

This study shows that cell packing order in human lung alveolospheres increases with nucleus-to-cell size ratio, resembling a gas-to-liquid transition, and may regulate organ development and maturation.

Live imaging in zebrafish reveals tissue-specific strategies for amoeboid migration

The paper uses live imaging in zebrafish to show T cells adapt their migration strategies based on tissue-specific geometries, using different actin structures in different environments.

Prostate cancer associated fibroblasts have distinct morphomechanical features that are associated with patient outcome

This study identifies distinct morphomechanical features of prostate cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) linked to patient outcomes and shows these features can be modulated by cancer treatments.