Direct Test of the Tensional Homeostasis Hypothesis with Force Microscopy

该奖项的研究目标是了解可收缩细胞如何利用来自其物理微环境的信息来动态控制其收缩。观察到不同组织中的细胞产生不同程度的张力导致了？紧张的体内平衡?在这种情况下，一个细胞组织自己在一个给定的组织内保持恒定的张力。作为该项目的一部分进行的研究将直接在单细胞中测试这一假设，使用力显微镜结合微图案来控制细胞粘附，并使用荧光显微镜来跟踪参与张力产生的关键分子。这项工作将开发新的实验技术来量化细胞对机械信号的反应，并确定参与机械传感的分子机制。该项目将解决机械生物学中的基本问题，这些问题有可能阐明细胞用于维持适当生理组织功能的机械控制参数。这项工作还将通过建立本构关系来推进细胞力学计算模型的发展。与此项目相关的教育计划将为中学理科学生和公众提供了解力学在生物学中的作用的新机会。此外，还将开展向中学生介绍环境中物体的材料特性的活动，并在社区科学活动中进行有关人体材料特性的展示。这两项活动将包括本科生和研究生，并有助于提高他们向非科学家交流科学的能力。

The research objective of this award is to understand how contractile cells use information from their physical microenvironment to dynamically control their contraction. The observation that cells in different tissues generate different amounts of tension has led to the concept of ?tensional homeostasis?, in which a cell organizes itself to maintain a constant tension within a given tissue. Studies conducted as part of this project will directly tests this hypothesis in single cells using force microscopy combined with micropatterning to control cell adhesions and fluorescence microscopy to track key molecules involved in tension generation. This work will develop new experimental techniques for quantifying the response of cells to mechanical signals and identify molecular mechanisms involved in mechanosensing. This project will address basic questions in mechanobiology that have the potential to clarify the mechanical control parameters cells use to maintain proper physiological tissue function. This work will also advance the development of computational models of cell mechanics by establishing constitutive relationships. The educational plan associated with this project will provide new opportunities for middle school science students and the general public to learn about the role of mechanics in biology. Activities for middle school students will be developed that introduce them to the material properties of objects in their environment, and an exhibit on properties of materials within the human body will be developed for presentation at community science events. Both activities will include undergraduate and graduate students and help to improve their ability to communicate science to non-scientists.