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Stress anisotropy in axisymmetric 3D active curved structures
Yuting Lou1,2, Sophie Theis3, Jean-Francois Rupprecht4
1Fudan University, Multiscale Research Institute for Complex Systems, and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai, China.
Physical Review. E
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Mechanical forces in curved biological layers, like epithelial sheets, cause stress anisotropy, leading to irregular 3D cell shapes. This model applies to various biological systems.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Biological layers with lateral connections are common in various systems.
- These layers often exist in curved, non-flat environments, such as the Drosophila embryo.
- Understanding mechanical forces in these curved domains is crucial for cell shape determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive description of how mechanical forces affect 3D cell shape within curved domains.
- To develop a generalizable model for stress anisotropy emergence based on depth and curvature.
- To investigate the interplay between layer curvature and cell mechanics in determining stress anisotropy.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a generalizable mechanical model for biological layers in curved domains.
- Analysis of stress anisotropy as a function of depth in different curvature settings.
- Focus on epithelial monolayers to illustrate the model's principles.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the emergence of stress anisotropy within curved biological layers.
- Showed that the interplay between layer curvature and cell mechanics dictates stress anisotropy.
- Identified that this stress anisotropy can result in irregular 3D cellular shapes.
Conclusions:
- The developed model offers a framework for understanding 3D cell shape regulation in curved biological environments.
- Stress anisotropy, driven by layer curvature and cell mechanics, significantly impacts cell morphology.
- The model's generalizability allows for application to diverse biological systems beyond epithelial monolayers.
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