Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

3D printing cytoskeletal networks: ROS-induced filament severing leads to surge in actin polymerization

This study shows that ROS-induced actin filament severing increases polymerization in vitro but can lead to network disassembly beyond a threshold.

Sp1 mechanotransduction regulates breast cancer cell invasion in response to multiple tumor-mimicking extracellular matrix cues

This study shows that Sp1 mechanotransduction enhances breast cancer cell invasion in response to combined ECM cues like stiffness, stress relaxation, and collagen density.

Electrical Stimulation Directs Articular Chondrocyte and Chondrosarcoma Migration in a 3D Collagen Matrix

This study shows electrical fields direct migration of articular chondrocytes and chondrosarcoma cells in 3D collagen, with chondrosarcoma showing stronger directional response and unique protrusion behavior.

Engineered micropillars to unveil oligodendrocyte responses to physical cues

This paper develops a tissue-engineered model to study how physical cues like stiffness and axonal diameter affect oligodendrocyte myelination, finding that softer substrates promote differentiation while rigid ones maintain mature states.

Force transmission is a master regulator of mechanical cell competition

This study identifies force transmission as a key factor in cell competition, showing that stronger intercellular adhesion leads to cell elimination through mechanical stress fluctuations.

Heterotypic interfacial tension between oncogenic and wild-type populations forms the mechanical basis of tissue-specific oncogenesis in epithelia

This study shows that mechanical interfacial tension between oncogenic and wild-type cells determines tissue-specific tumor formation in mammary and bronchial epithelia.

Engagement with the nucleus enhances the efficiency of basement membrane invasion

The paper shows that nuclear contact and positioning enhance basement membrane invasion efficiency in C. elegans anchor cells.

Compressive forces induce epigenetic activation of aged human dermal fibroblasts through ERK signalling pathway

This study shows compressive forces rejuvenate aged human dermal fibroblasts via ERK signaling, inducing epigenetic changes and increased collagen I.

The NHSL1-A complex interacts with the Arp2/3 complex and controls cell migration efficiency and chemotaxis.

This study identifies the NHSL1-A complex as a regulator of cell migration and chemotaxis by interacting with the Arp2/3 complex and modulating lamellipodia dynamics.

A tension-induced morphological transition shapes the avian extra-embryonic territory

The paper investigates how tension during epiboly drives morphological changes in avian extra-embryonic cells, leading to the formation of the primitive streak.

Glassy Adhesion Dynamics Govern Transitions Between Sub-Diffusive and Super-Diffusive Cell Migration on Viscoelastic Substrates

This study investigates how viscoelastic substrate properties influence cell migration, revealing transitions between sub-diffusive and super-diffusive behavior through a new glassy motor-clutch model.

Electrotaxis disrupts patterns of cell-cell interactions of human corneal epithelial cells in vitro

This study examines how an electric field affects cell-cell interactions in human corneal epithelial cells during electrotaxis, showing changes in contact inhibition and velocity alignment.

Integer topological defects provide a new way to quantify and classify cell sheets

The paper induces +1 topological defects in neural progenitor cell monolayers and shows cells are attracted to their cores, challenging existing theories about active nematics.

The TissueTractor, a device for applying large strains to tissues and cells for simultaneous high-resolution live cell microscopy.

Paralemmin-1 controls the nanoarchitecture of the neuronal submembrane cytoskeleton

This study identifies Paralemmin-1 as a regulator of the neuronal submembrane cytoskeleton MPS, showing it enhances periodicity and is essential for its structure and function.

Plectin-mediated cytoskeletal crosstalk as a target for inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis.

This study identifies plectin as a critical mediator of mechanical homeostasis in hepatocellular carcinoma, showing that its inhibition suppresses tumor growth and metastasis.

Mechanical fracturing of the extracellular matrix patterns the vertebrate heart

The paper shows that mechanical fracturing of the cardiac extracellular matrix patterns delamination in the zebrafish heart, independent of biochemical signals.

E-cadherin mechanotransduction activates EGFR-ERK signaling in epithelial cells by inducing ADAM-mediated ligand shedding

This study shows mechanical strain activates EGFR-ERK signaling in epithelial cells via E-cadherin-induced ADAM17-mediated ligand shedding.

Epithelial polarity drives tissue tension in planar, free standing cell monolayers

This study examines how epithelial cell polarity affects tissue tension in free-standing monolayers, showing that basal cortex tension drives elastic responses while apical regions exhibit hysteresis.

Contractility of cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue increases with environmental stiffness

This study shows that contractile force in cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues increases with environmental stiffness following a power-law relationship.

Development of three-color FRET measurement of force-dependent sensing of RIAM-Vinculin interactions in focal adhesions

This paper develops a three-color Cascade-FRET system to measure force-dependent interactions between RIAM and vinculin in focal adhesions, revealing force-independent binding and tension-sensing capabilities.

Mechanotransduction and Biophysical Regulation of Fibroblast Plasticity Under Prolonged Shear Stress

This study shows prolonged shear stress induces fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition through mechanical and biochemical changes, with lasting effects on cell morphology, adhesion, and migration.

EDA Fibronectin Microarchitecture and YAP Translocation During Wound Closure

This study investigates how EDA fibronectin matrix organization during wound closure influences YAP translocation, showing that altered matrix structure in fibrotic wounds disrupts YAP signaling, potentially impairing regenerative repair.

Nanomechanics of cell-derived matrices as a functional read-out in Collagen VI-related Congenital Muscular Dystrophies

This study uses AFM-FS to analyze nanomechanical properties of cell-derived matrices from COL6-RD patients, showing differences in elastic modulus and potential for gene therapy response assessment.

Interfacial energy constraints are sufficient to align cells over large distances

The paper develops a biophysical model to explain how cells align over long distances through interfacial energy constraints, demonstrating its applicability to cell matching in the Drosophila heart.

Large-scale control over collective cell migration using light-controlled epidermal growth factor receptors

This study uses light-controlled EGF receptors to precisely manipulate tissue movements in epithelial cells, showing light can drive millimeter-scale rearrangements.

Mechanical Implications of Cellular Viscoelasticity, Cortex Polarity, Superelasticity, and Cell-Cell Junctions in Curved Tissues

The paper investigates how mechanical properties of curved epithelial tissues respond to deformation, identifying factors like viscoelasticity and cell-cell junctions that influence tissue behavior.

A mathematical model for bleb expansion clarifies the role of TalA in regulating blebbing

This paper develops a mathematical model of bleb expansion to show that TalA regulates intracellular pressure by limiting membrane expansion during blebbing, resulting in smaller and less frequent blebs in its absence.

Tension-Induced Stiffening of Cytoskeletal Components Regulates Cardiomyocyte Contractility

This study investigates how mechanical tension and cytoskeletal stiffening regulate cardiomyocyte contractility through a combined theoretical and experimental approach.

Characterization, enrichment, and computational modeling of cross-linked actin networks in trabecular meshwork cells

The paper enhances CLAN incidence in GTM3L cells through sorting and substrate stiffness manipulation and models their biomechanical impact on cell stiffness and nuclear resistance.