Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Mechanical behavior in living cells consistent with the tensegrity model.

N Wang1, K Naruse, D Stamenović

  • 1Physiology Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 5, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Epithelial-Stromal Interactions in Barrett's Esophagus Modeled in Human Organ Chips.

Gastro hep advances·2024
Same author

Emerging preclinical evidence does not support broad use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients.

Nature communications·2020
Same author

Primary Human Lung Alveolus-on-a-chip Model of Intravascular Thrombosis for Assessment of Therapeutics.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics·2017
Same author

Latrophilin receptors: novel bronchodilator targets in asthma.

Thorax·2016
Same author

Rapid Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus Pathogens from Infected Clinical Samples Using Magnetic Beads Coated with Fc-Mannose Binding Lectin.

PloS one·2016
Same author

Activation of mechanosensitive ion channel TRPV4 normalizes tumor vasculature and improves cancer therapy.

Oncogene·2015

Living cells function as discrete, interconnected networks of actin and microtubules, not simple continua. This tensegrity structure, with microtubules bearing compression, explains cell shape stability.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Cytoskeletal Dynamics

Background:

  • Existing cell mechanics models include continuum, gel, membrane, and tensegrity networks.
  • Tensegrity models propose discrete elements bear compression to maintain prestress and stability.
  • Understanding the mechanical behavior of living cells is crucial for cell biology and biophysics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical behavior of living cells under stress.
  • To determine the role of microtubules and actin microfilaments in cellular mechanics.
  • To evaluate the validity of the tensegrity model in explaining cell shape stability.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time microscopic analysis of cells with GFP-labeled microtubules and mitochondria.
  • Application of mechanical stresses to cell surface integrin receptors.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline Cell BiologyNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • Quantification of cell tractional forces and cellular prestress using traction force microscopy.

    • Main Results:

    • Living cells behave as discrete structures of interconnected actin and microtubules under stress.
    • Microtubules were confirmed to bear compression and contribute significantly to cytoskeletal prestress.
    • Cellular prestress, independent of myosin light chain phosphorylation and intracellular calcium, dictates cell shape stability.
    • Mechanical behaviors observed align with predictions of the tensegrity model.

    Conclusions:

    • The tensegrity model provides a unified framework for understanding cell mechanics.
    • Collective interactions among cytoskeletal filaments and extracellular adhesions govern emergent mechanical behaviors.
    • Microtubules play a critical role in maintaining cell shape stability through compression resistance.