Defining how cells relay mechanical signals to changes in cell architecture

机械信号在器官和整个生物体的发育过程中起着至关重要的作用，尽管这些信号如何传递到细胞结构的变化是一个主要的未解之谜。在血管网络中，包括流体流动、张力和拉伸在内的机械信号在血管的形态、身份和成熟中起着关键作用。本应用旨在采用尖端技术来确定非典型钙粘蛋白FAT4如何将包括流量和张力在内的机械信号传递到淋巴内皮细胞骨架，从而使细胞形状发生变化，这对构建淋巴管很重要。这个项目将增加我们对细胞如何感知触觉的理解，并可能应用于组织工程目的。

Mechanical signals play crucial roles in shaping organs and entire organisms during development, though how these signals are relayed to changes in cell architecture is a major unanswered question. Within vascular networks, mechanical signals including fluid flow, tension and stretch play key roles in vessel patterning, identity and maturation. This application aims to employ cutting-edge technologies to determine how the atypical cadherin FAT4 relays mechanical signals including flow and tension to the lymphatic endothelial cell skeleton, thereby enabling changes in cell shape important for building lymphatic vessels. This project will increase our understanding of how cells sense touch and may be applied for tissue engineering purposes.