Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201499109
Title: Biomimetic emulsions reveal the effect of mechanical forces on cell-cell adhesion
Authors: Pontani, L.-L.
Jorjadze, I.
Viasnoff, V. 
Brujic, J.
Keywords: Cell mechanics
Lipid emulsion
Protein emulsion
Issue Date: 19-Jun-2012
Citation: Pontani, L.-L., Jorjadze, I., Viasnoff, V., Brujic, J. (2012-06-19). Biomimetic emulsions reveal the effect of mechanical forces on cell-cell adhesion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109 (25) : 9839-9844. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201499109
Abstract: Cell-cell contacts in tissues are continuously subject to mechanical forces due to homeostatic pressure and active cytoskeleton dynamics. In the process of cellular adhesion, the molecular pathways are well characterized but the role of mechanics is less well understood. To isolate the role of pressure we present a dense packing of functionalized emulsion droplets in which surface interactions are tuned to mimic those of real cells. By visualizing the microstructure in 3D we find that a threshold compression force is necessary to overcome electrostatic repulsion and surface elasticity and establish protein-mediated adhesion. Varying the droplet interaction potential maps out a phase diagram for adhesion as a function of force and salt concentration. Remarkably, fitting the data with our theoretical model predicts binder concentrations in the adhesion areas that are similar to those found in real cells. Moreover, we quantify the dependence of the area of adhesion on the applied force and thus reveal adhesion strengthening with increasing external pressure even in the absence of active cellular processes. This biomimetic approach reveals a physical origin of pressure-sensitive adhesion and its strength across cell-cell junctions.
Source Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
URI: http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/126607
ISSN: 00278424
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1201499109
Appears in Collections:Staff Publications

Show full item record
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.