MECHANISMS OF CELL-SHAPE CHANGE - THE CYTOMECHANICS OF CELLULAR-RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT AND MECHANICAL LOADING

Authors
Citation
Ds. Adams, MECHANISMS OF CELL-SHAPE CHANGE - THE CYTOMECHANICS OF CELLULAR-RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT AND MECHANICAL LOADING, The Journal of cell biology, 117(1), 1992, pp. 83-93
Citations number
51
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Journal title
ISSN journal
0021-9525
Volume
117
Issue
1
Year of publication
1992
Pages
83 - 93
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-9525(1992)117:1<83:MOCC-T>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
Processes such as cell locomotion and morphogenesis depend on both the generation of force by cytoskeletal elements and the response of the cell to the resulting mechanical loads. Many widely accepted theoretic al models of processes involving cell shape change are based on untest ed hypotheses about the interaction of these two components of cell sh ape change. I have quantified the mechanical responses of cytoplasm to various chemical environments and mechanical loading regimes to under stand better the mechanisms of cell shape change and to address the va lidity of these models. Measurements of cell mechanical properties wer e made with strands of cytoplasm submerged in media containing deterge nt to permeabilize the plasma membrane, thus allowing control over int racellular milieu. Experiments were performed with equipment that gene rated sinusoidally varying length changes of isolated strands of cytop lasm from Physarum polycephalum. Results indicate that stiffness, elas ticity, and viscosity of cytoplasm all increase with increasing concen tration of Ca2+, Mg2+, and ATP, and decrease with increasing magnitude and rate of deformation. These results specifically challenge assumpt ions underlying mathematical models of morphogenetic events such as ep ithelial folding and cell division, and further suggest that gelation may depend on both actin cross-linking and actin polymerization.