Hysteresis in the cell response to time-dependent substrate stiffness
Mechanical cues like the rigidity of the substrate are main determinants for the decision making of adherent cells. Here we use a mechano-chemical model to predict the cellular response to varying substrate stiffness. The model equations combine the mechanics of contractile actin filament bundles wi...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) Chapter/Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| In: |
Arxiv
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| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.1092
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| Author Notes: | Achim Besser, University of Heidelberg, Bioquant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Ulrich S. Schwarz, University of Heidelberg, Bioquant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany and University of Heidelberg, Institute for Theoretical Physics, Philosophenweg 19, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany |
| Summary: | Mechanical cues like the rigidity of the substrate are main determinants for the decision making of adherent cells. Here we use a mechano-chemical model to predict the cellular response to varying substrate stiffness. The model equations combine the mechanics of contractile actin filament bundles with a model for the Rho-signaling pathway triggered by forces at cell-matrix contacts. A bifurcation analysis of cellular contractility as a function of substrate stiffness reveals a bistable response, thus defining a lower threshold of stiffness, below which cells are not able to build up contractile forces, and an upper threshold of stiffness, above which cells are always in a strongly contracted state. Using the full dynamical model, we predict that rate-dependent hysteresis will occur in the cellular traction forces when cells are exposed to substrates of time-dependent stiffness. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 08.12.2017 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |