Abstract

Huajian Gao
Brown University
Division of Engineering
Providence, Rhode Island

Monday, April 28, 2008
Wilsdorf Hall, RM 101
3:30 - 4:30 pm

Please join us beforehand for refreshments at 3:00

"Nanomechanics of biological systems - bridging single molecule and continuum mechanics descriptions of cell adhesion"

ABSTRACT:

With the long term objective to develop a quantitative model of focal adhesion (FA) dynamics in cell adhesion, we have been studying mechanics of adhesive molecular bond clusters on elastic substrates subjected to forces generated either by cell's own contractile machinery or external applieding [1].

The distribution of interfacial traction is assumed to obey classical elasticity descriptions whereas the rupture and rebinding of individual molecular bonds are governed by stochastic equations. We conduct theoretical modeling and Monte Carlo simulations that combine the elastic and stochastic equations to investigate the effects of substrate stiffness, cellular contractile force and adhesion size on the stability of FAs under generally non-uniform interfacial traction.

Our model presents a number of predictions which are consistent with relevant experimental observations including: (a) formation of FAs favors stiff substrates; (b) increasing contractility on actin stress fibers stabilizes FAs; (c) there is an upper limit on the size of FAs.

[1] Qian, J.; Wang, J.., Gao H. Langmuir, 2008, Vol. 24, 1262-1270.

 

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