Force-driven growth of intercellular junctions

JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY

卷:421

Article

Tehrani, Mohammad¹  Sarvestani, Alireza S.¹ 

[1] Ohio Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Athens, OH 45701 USA

关键词: Mechanotransduction;    Gibbs free energy;    Growth;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.03.028

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Mechanical force regulates the formation and growth of cell-cell junctions. Cadherin is a prominent homotypic cell adhesion molecule that plays a crucial role in establishment of intercellular adhesion. It is known that the transmitted force through the cadherin-mediated junctions directly correlates with the growth and enlargement of the junctions. In this paper, we propose a physical model for the structural evolution of cell-cell junctions subjected to pulling tractions, using the Bell-Dembo-Bongard thermodynamic model. Cadherins have multiple adhesive states and may establish slip or catch bonds depending on the Ca2+ concentration. We conducted a comparative study between the force-dependent behavior of clusters of slip and catch bonds. The results show that the clusters of catch bonds feature some hallmarks of cell mechanotransduction in response to the pulling traction. This is a passive thermodynamic response and is entirely controlled by the effect of mechanical work of the pulling force on the free energy landscape of the junction. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free