Bio-chemo-mechanical models for nuclear deformation in adherent eukaryotic cells

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Eukaryotic cells respond to diverse chemical and mechanical stimuli.
• Mechano-chemical stimuli, including cytoskeletal forces and extracellular forces, regulate cell behavior.
• The nucleus plays a critical role in mechanosensing, influencing gene transcription via chromatin organization and nuclear membrane permeability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review computational models investigating the mechano-chemical behavior of adherent eukaryotic cells.
• To analyze discrete and continuum approaches for single-cell mechanics modeling.
• To focus on bio-chemo-mechanical models and techniques that incorporate the nucleus.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of computational models for eukaryotic cell mechanics.
• Analysis of discrete and continuum modeling approaches.
• Focus on bio-chemo-mechanical models and nuclear modeling techniques.

Main Results:

• Identified two main classes of computational models: discrete and continuum approaches.
• Highlighted the importance of bio-chemo-mechanical models that account for the nucleus.
• Discussed modeling techniques' ability to predict cytoskeletal contractility and nuclear stress-strain states.

Conclusions:

• Computational models are crucial for understanding the poorly understood molecular mechanisms of nuclear mechanosensing.
• Modeling approaches provide insights into how cellular forces impact nuclear structure and gene expression.
• Further development of these models is needed to fully elucidate the cell's response to mechano-chemical stimuli.