Instrument-dependent cadherin monolayer interactions.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Theoretical Physics

Background:

• Cadherin interactions are crucial for cell adhesion.
• Accurate force measurements are needed to understand cadherin function.
• Existing models may not fully capture the complexities of cadherin interactions at the nanoscale.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present two novel theoretical models for predicting forces between cadherin-coated surfaces.
• To incorporate continuum theory and nanoscale size effects into force prediction models.
• To compare the predictive capabilities of the models using experimental data.

Main Methods:

• Developed a continuum theory-based model for large object interactions.
• Developed a second model incorporating size effects relevant to cadherin measurements.
• Applied both models to analyze force-separation curves from atomic force microscopy and surface force apparatus experiments.

Main Results:

• The models provide theoretical predictions for forces between cadherin-coated sphere and plane geometries.
• The second model's inclusion of size effects is particularly relevant for nanoscale cadherin measurements.
• Comparison of model predictions with experimental force-separation curves is presented.

Conclusions:

• The introduced theoretical models offer improved predictions for cadherin-mediated forces.
• Accounting for size effects is essential for accurate modeling of nanoscale cadherin interactions.
• These models can aid in the interpretation of biophysical measurements of cadherin function.