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In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
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High-resolution Imaging of Nuclear Dynamics in Live Cells under Uniaxial Tensile Strain
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Tissue tectonics: morphogenetic strain rates, cell shape change and intercalation.

Guy B Blanchard1, Alexandre J Kabla, Nora L Schultz

  • 1Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Nature Methods
|May 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Scientists developed a new framework to measure cell behaviors and tissue morphogenesis. This quantitative approach links cell shape changes and intercalation to tissue reshaping, aiding in understanding developmental processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Tissue morphogenesis involves complex cell behaviors and collective rearrangements.
  • A quantitative framework is needed to link individual cell actions to overall tissue shape changes.
  • Existing methods lack the precision to unambiguously measure and connect cell behavior with tissue morphogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a novel kinematic framework for quantifying cell behaviors during tissue morphogenesis.
  • To bridge the gap between individual cell dynamics and mesoscopic tissue-level changes.
  • To provide a method for explicitly defining and measuring cell intercalation as a continuous process.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a mesoscopic kinematic framework analyzing cell clusters or domains.
  • Measured domain deformation via relative cell positions and shape evolution.
  • Quantified fundamental cell behaviors: tensorial rates of cell shape change and cell intercalation.

Main Results:

  • Introduced invariant quantities to characterize distinct cell behaviors.
  • Provided an explicit, continuous definition of cell intercalation.
  • Mapped spatiotemporal strain rates in three distinct tissue morphogenesis models.
  • Gained insights into underlying morphogenetic mechanisms through quantitative analysis.

Conclusions:

  • The developed kinematic framework quantitatively links cell behavior to tissue morphogenesis.
  • This approach enables precise characterization and comparison of morphogenetic phenotypes.
  • The findings have broad relevance for studying developmental processes and cell dynamics.