Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Creation of Cardiac Tissue Exhibiting Mechanical Integration of Spheroids Using 3D Bioprinting
Published on: July 2, 2017
E-cadherin, actin, microtubules and FAK dominate different spheroid formation phases and important elements of tissue
I Smyrek1, B Mathew1, S C Fischer1
1Physical Biology/Physikalische Biologie (IZN, FB 15), Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF - MC), Goethe Universität - Frankfurt am Main (Campus Riedberg), Max-von-Laue-Straße 15, D-60348 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abstract:
Spheroids resemble features of tissues and serve as model systems to study cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions in non-adhesive three-dimensional environments. Although it is generally accepted that mature spheroids resemble tissue properties very well, no studies relate different phases in the spheroid formation processes that contribute to tissue integrity. Tissue integrity involves the cellular processes adhesion formation, adhesion reinforcement, rearrangement as well as proliferation. They maintain the structure and function of tissues and, upon dysregulation, contribute to malignancy. We investigated spheroid formation dynamics in cell lines of different metastatic potential. We dissected spheroid formation into phases of aggregation, compaction and growth to identify the respective contributions of E-cadherin, actin, microtubules and FAK. E-cadherin, actin and microtubules drive the first two phases. Microtubules and FAK are involved in the proliferation phase. FAK activity correlates with the metastatic potential of the cells. A robust computational model based on a very large number of experiments reveals the temporal resolution of cell adhesion. Our results provide novel hypotheses to unveil the general mechanisms that contribute to tissue integrity.
More Related Videos
09:10Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
Published on: August 25, 2022
07:21Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues
Published on: November 17, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Microtubule Formation
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Microtubules
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments
The high-order actin...
Structure of Cadherins
Incomplete Dominance