NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Mechanical behavior in living cells consistent with the tensegrity modelAlternative models of cell mechanics depict the living cell as a simple mechanical continuum, porous filament gel, tensed cortical membrane, or tensegrity network that maintains a stabilizing prestress through incorporation of discrete structural elements that bear compression. Real-time microscopic analysis of cells containing GFP-labeled microtubules and associated mitochondria revealed that living cells behave like discrete structures composed of an interconnected network of actin microfilaments and microtubules when mechanical stresses are applied to cell surface integrin receptors. Quantitation of cell tractional forces and cellular prestress by using traction force microscopy confirmed that microtubules bear compression and are responsible for a significant portion of the cytoskeletal prestress that determines cell shape stability under conditions in which myosin light chain phosphorylation and intracellular calcium remained unchanged. Quantitative measurements of both static and dynamic mechanical behaviors in cells also were consistent with specific a priori predictions of the tensegrity model. These findings suggest that tensegrity represents a unified model of cell mechanics that may help to explain how mechanical behaviors emerge through collective interactions among different cytoskeletal filaments and extracellular adhesions in living cells.
Document ID
20040112380
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Wang, N.
(Harvard School of Public Health Boston, MA 02115, United States)
Naruse, K.
Stamenovic, D.
Fredberg, J. J.
Mijailovich, S. M.
Tolic-Norrelykke, I. M.
Polte, T.
Mannix, R.
Ingber, D. E.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 3, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume: 98
Issue: 14
ISSN: 0027-8424
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: HL-65371
CONTRACT_GRANT: HL-33099
CONTRACT_GRANT: CA-45448
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Cell Biology
Non-NASA Center

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available