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Related Concept Videos

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...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...

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2.5D Model for Ex Vivo Mechanical Characterization of Sprouting Angiogenesis in Living Tissue
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Forces in epithelial origami.

Celeste M Nelson1

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

Developmental Cell
|October 5, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mechanical forces between the gut lining and muscle drive tissue folding. Differences in tissue properties cause the intestinal epithelium to buckle and form villi during development.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Tissue mechanics
  • Morphogenesis

Background:

  • Tissue patterning involves complex cellular interactions.
  • Mechanical forces are increasingly recognized as key regulators of morphogenesis.
  • Understanding the interplay between different tissue layers is crucial for developmental studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mechanical crosstalk between epithelium and mesenchyme in intestinal villus formation.
  • To elucidate the biophysical mechanisms underlying epithelial folding during tissue development.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of mechanical properties of developing intestinal epithelium and smooth muscle.
  • Modeling of tissue folding based on differential mechanical characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Differences in mechanical properties between the intestinal epithelium and surrounding smooth muscle were identified.
  • These mechanical disparities were shown to induce epithelial folding through a process termed mucosal buckling.
  • The study demonstrates a direct link between tissue mechanics and the formation of intestinal villi.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanical crosstalk between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues is a significant driver of morphogenesis.
  • Mucosal buckling, a phenomenon driven by differential mechanical properties, is the mechanism for intestinal villus formation.
  • This research provides insights into the physical principles governing tissue development and patterning.