Direct Test of the Tensional Homeostasis Hypothesis with Force Microscopy

用力显微镜直接检验张力稳态假说

• 批准号: 1235569
• 负责人: Daniel Fletcher
• 金额: $ 37.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1235569&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Direct; Test; Tensional; Homeostasis; Hypothesis

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.

该奖项的研究目标是了解收缩细胞如何使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的张力，导致了“张力”的概念。张力平衡？其中细胞组织自身以维持给定组织内的恒定张力。作为该项目的一部分进行的研究将使用力显微镜结合微图案控制细胞粘附和荧光显微镜跟踪参与张力产生的关键分子，在单细胞中直接测试这一假设。 这项工作将开发新的实验技术，用于量化细胞对机械信号的响应，并确定机械传感中涉及的分子机制。 这个项目将解决机械生物学中的基本问题，这些问题有可能澄清细胞用于维持适当生理组织功能的机械控制参数。 这项工作也将通过建立本构关系推进细胞力学计算模型的发展。与该项目相关的教育计划将为中学理科学生和公众提供新的机会，了解力学在生物学中的作用。 将为中学生开展活动，向他们介绍其环境中物体的材料特性，并将开发一个关于人体内材料特性的展览，以在社区科学活动中展示。 这两项活动都将包括本科生和研究生，并帮助提高他们向非科学家传播科学的能力。