Difference between revisions of "Long-distance propagation of forces in a cell"
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The researchers modeled the cell's interior as being governed by primarily two forces: actin fibers that could act as "force guides" and transmit force from the surface, where it occurred, to distances as far away as the cell diameter; and the internal cytoskeleton (CSK) network, which worked to homogenize the cell. If the action of the CSK network predominated, then the cell should act homogeneously, and the force should dissipate over a distance on the order of the size of the local application. | The researchers modeled the cell's interior as being governed by primarily two forces: actin fibers that could act as "force guides" and transmit force from the surface, where it occurred, to distances as far away as the cell diameter; and the internal cytoskeleton (CSK) network, which worked to homogenize the cell. If the action of the CSK network predominated, then the cell should act homogeneously, and the force should dissipate over a distance on the order of the size of the local application. | ||
Revision as of 17:54, 13 September 2010
Entry by Angelo Mao, AP 225, Fall 2010
Title: Long-distance propagation of forces in a cell
Authors: Ning Wang, Zhigang Suo
Journal: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume: 328 (2005)
Pages: 1133–1138
Summary
The researchers propose two theoretical models for the propagation of "locally applied forces" throughout the body of a cell. Contrary to preexisting models, these models balance the effects of the actin bundles running throughout the inside of the cells against the cytoskeleton network. These models predict that the effects of force propagation via stiff actin bundles would far supersede the effects of force dampening via the cell's cytoskeleton. The results of theory are confirmed by experimentally applying a "local" force on the cell surface and observing where force deformations occur. Both theoretical and experimental results contribute insight to force propagation in the cell, which, in turn, has implications for cell signaling, behavior, and integrity.
Soft Matter Keywords: cell, in vitro, actin, force, modulus
Theoretical Summary
Background
The researchers modeled the cell's interior as being governed by primarily two forces: actin fibers that could act as "force guides" and transmit force from the surface, where it occurred, to distances as far away as the cell diameter; and the internal cytoskeleton (CSK) network, which worked to homogenize the cell. If the action of the CSK network predominated, then the cell should act homogeneously, and the force should dissipate over a distance on the order of the size of the local application.
