Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Maintenance of the ES Cell State01:14

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

2.2K
The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
2.2K
Stem Cell Niche01:26

Stem Cell Niche

5.1K
The stem cell niche is the dynamic microenvironment where stem cells reside. Inside these niches, the cells may remain undifferentiated, undergo high self-renewal, or become lineage-specific progenitors. Stem cells coexist with other niche cells, such as stromal cells. They also interact closely with the ECM. Cell-cell and cell-matrix communication occur via adhesion molecules or soluble factors that signal the stem cells and determine their fate. Stromal cells also provide survival signals to...
5.1K
Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells01:19

Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

3.1K
The hematopoietic stem cells or HSCs are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate and give rise to all blood and immune cells. HSCs are maintained in the quiescent stage until an external stimulus initiates their differentiation. The multipotent HSCs exist as two heterogeneous populations, long-term repopulating cells (LTRC) and short-term repopulating cells (STRC). The two HSC populations have different surface markers or receptors and are classified based on quiescence and long-term...
3.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Expression-linked promoter selection (ELiPS) engineers short, strong ubiquitous promoters for gene therapy applications.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Optogenetic WNT signaling drives germ layer self-organization in a human gastruloid model.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Stress-relaxing granular bioprinting materials enable complex and uniform organoid self-organization.

Nature materials·2026
Same author

Bioenergetic responses to β-adrenergic stimulation in beige adipocyte depend on actomyosin driven forces.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Frequency-dependent cellular microrheology with pyramidal atomic force microscopy probes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Nickase fidelity drives EvolvR-mediated diversification in mammalian cells.

Nature communications·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Author Spotlight: Improved Nucleofection for High-Efficiency Gene Delivery in Murine Subventricular Zone-Derived Neural Stem Cell Cultures
09:19

Author Spotlight: Improved Nucleofection for High-Efficiency Gene Delivery in Murine Subventricular Zone-Derived Neural Stem Cell Cultures

Published on: June 14, 2024

2.2K

Substrate stress relaxation regulates neural stem cell fate commitment.

Eric Qiao1, Camille A Fulmore2, David V Schaffer1,2,3

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 5, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiate into neurons or glia. We found that the viscoelastic properties of their environment influence NSC fate, promoting glial differentiation by altering cytoskeletal dynamics.

Keywords:
mechanotransductionneural stem cellsneurogenesisstress relaxationviscoelasticity

More Related Videos

Classification of Neural Stem Cell Activation State In Vitro using Autofluorescence
06:56

Classification of Neural Stem Cell Activation State In Vitro using Autofluorescence

Published on: April 12, 2024

580
Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
10:48

Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes

Published on: April 12, 2015

10.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Author Spotlight: Improved Nucleofection for High-Efficiency Gene Delivery in Murine Subventricular Zone-Derived Neural Stem Cell Cultures
09:19

Author Spotlight: Improved Nucleofection for High-Efficiency Gene Delivery in Murine Subventricular Zone-Derived Neural Stem Cell Cultures

Published on: June 14, 2024

2.2K
Classification of Neural Stem Cell Activation State In Vitro using Autofluorescence
06:56

Classification of Neural Stem Cell Activation State In Vitro using Autofluorescence

Published on: April 12, 2024

580
Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
10:48

Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes

Published on: April 12, 2015

10.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in the hippocampus are crucial for learning and memory.
  • Understanding NSC fate commitment is vital for addressing neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Previous research linked NSC differentiation to extracellular matrix stiffness, but in vivo tissues possess viscoelastic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of substrate viscoelasticity on adult neural stem cell fate commitment.
  • To develop a novel cell culture platform for tuning matrix viscoelastic properties.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying NSC response to viscoelastic cues.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a polyacrylamide-based cell culture platform with tunable viscoelasticity using DNA oligonucleotide cross-links.
  • Varied the number of mismatched base pairs to control stress relaxation properties.
  • Analyzed NSC differentiation, cytoskeletal dynamics (actin flow), and mechanosensitive protein activation (RhoA).
  • Utilized inhibitors for myosin II and focal adhesion kinase to probe molecular pathways.

Main Results:

  • Increased substrate stress relaxation promoted astrocytic differentiation of NSCs.
  • Viscoelastic substrates decreased intracellular actin flow rates.
  • Cyclic activation of RhoA was stimulated on stress-relaxing substrates.
  • Inhibiting myosin II or focal adhesion kinase partially reversed lineage changes.

Conclusions:

  • The study introduces a novel system for controlling matrix viscoelasticity in cell culture.
  • NSC fate commitment is influenced by the integration of viscoelastic cues from the microenvironment.
  • Viscoelasticity impacts NSC differentiation through modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics and mechanotransduction pathways involving RhoA.