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Dynamic phase transitions in cell spreading.

Hans-Günther Döbereiner1, Benjamin Dubin-Thaler, Grégory Giannone

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2004
PubMed
Summary
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Mouse embryonic fibroblasts spread on fibronectin in three distinct phases, exhibiting power-law area growth. Membrane retraction dynamics reveal periodic retractions during the contractile spreading phase.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Cell spreading is a fundamental process in cell biology.
  • Understanding the dynamics of cell adhesion and spreading is crucial for various biological processes.
  • Fibronectin is a key extracellular matrix protein involved in cell adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of mouse embryonic fibroblast spreading on fibronectin.
  • To identify and characterize distinct phases of cell spreading.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of membrane dynamics during spreading.

Main Methods:

  • Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIR-FM) for measuring cell adhesion area over time.
  • High-resolution differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy for analyzing local membrane dynamics.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Fourier power spectra analysis of membrane velocity data.

    • Main Results:

    • Cell spreading occurred in three distinct phases: basal, continuous, and contractile spreading.
    • Power-law growth kinetics with unique exponents were observed in each phase.
    • Periodic membrane retractions emerged at the transition to the contractile spreading phase, identified via Fourier analysis.

    Conclusions:

    • Cell spreading on fibronectin follows a phased program with distinct kinetic and dynamic characteristics.
    • The observed membrane retraction dynamics suggest a regulatory mechanism controlling spreading progression.
    • This phased classification of cell spreading can serve as a model for classifying other cellular phenotypes.