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Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
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Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

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. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose, and...
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...

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Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
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Published on: November 2, 2011

Cell adhesion on ligand gradient substrates: a thermodynamic study.

Alireza S Sarvestani1

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine, 5711 Boardman Hall, Room 206, Orono, Maine 04469-5711, USA. alireza.sarvestani@umit.maine.edu

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|August 25, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Cellular responses to bio-adhesive protein gradients were studied. A thermodynamic model predicts cell spreading depends on ligand density and substrate position, impacting medical device design.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Cellular Mechanics
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Gradient distribution of bio-adhesive proteins regulates cellular processes like adhesion, growth, and migration.
  • Controlling cell function via surface ligand density is crucial for implantable medical devices and tissue engineering scaffolds.
  • Advanced fabrication techniques enable precise control over surface properties for studying cell responses to adhesion gradients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a theoretical framework for analyzing the impact of ligand gradients on cellular adhesion.
  • To quantitatively assess cellular responses to surface gradients and elucidate sensing mechanisms.
  • To investigate the interplay between cell-substrate adhesion, repulsion, and membrane elasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Development of an equilibrium thermodynamic model to analyze cell-substrate interactions.
  • Systematic investigation of specific cell-substrate adhesions, non-specific repulsions, and membrane elasticity.
  • Theoretical examination of macroscopic cellular response to engineered surface gradients.

Main Results:

  • The model predicts a biphasic dependence of cell spreading on the position across a gradient substrate.
  • Demonstrates a quantitative relationship between surface ligand distribution and cellular adhesion extent.
  • Highlights the mechanistic basis for cell sensing and response to directional surface cues.

Conclusions:

  • Ligand gradients significantly influence cellular adhesion and spreading.
  • The developed thermodynamic model provides predictive insights into cell-surface interactions.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for designing advanced biomaterials and regenerative medicine applications.