INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING IN MECHANOBIOLOGY FROM NM TO CM

描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议通过提供跨学科和长度尺度的严格和连贯的培训，为学员在机械生物学领域具有重大影响的研究职业做好准备。近年来，机械力在生物学中的重要性在许多长度尺度上变得越来越明显。细胞感知并响应其微环境的机械特性。这些机械性质引导细胞运动，决定细胞骨架结构，并控制分化和基因表达。在 在纳米尺度上，力影响分子构型，反之亦然;马达蛋白与细胞骨架组分相互作用以产生收缩或运输货物。肌动蛋白聚合产生的力驱动细胞迁移和突起。在这些例子中，生物化学过程产生力，但力也可能影响潜在的生物化学。这些复杂的耦合相互作用在临床和转化科学中非常重要，因为亚细胞和细胞现象决定了组织和器官、解剖学和形态学的宏观行为。相反，当动物或植物与其宏观环境相互作用时，其在较长尺度上的结构和力学性质会影响力如何传递到细胞及其组件。MBnc培训计划将利用华盛顿大学在这些领域强大的师资和资源基础。它将为博士前学员提供生物学和力学方面的基础课程，以及这些学科交叉点的研究培训。要求每年支助6名受训人员。每个受训人员将获得两年的支持，通常是研究生学习的第三和第四年。参加该计划的学员将准备对力学在生物学中的作用进行跨长度尺度的高级跨学科研究，从而填补科学界日益增长的重要需求。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to prepare trainees for research careers with significant impact in the field of mechanobiology by providing rigorous and coherent training that crosses disciplines and length scales. The importance of mechanical force in biology at many length scales has become increasingly clear in recent years. Cells sense and respond to the mechanical properties of their microenvironment. These mechanical properties guide cell motility, determine cytoskeletal structure, and control differentiation and gene expression. At the nanometer scale, force affects molecular configuration, and vice versa; motor proteins interact with cytoskeletal components to produce contraction or to transport cargo. Forces generated by actin polymerization drive cell migration and protrusion. In each of these examples, a biochemical process produces force, but force may also affect the underlying biochemistry. These complex, coupled interactions are important in clinical and translational science, as subcellular and cellular phenomena determine the macroscopic behavior of tissues and organs, anatomy and morphology. Conversely, as an animal or plant interacts with its macroscopic environment, its structure and mechanical properties at longer length scales affect how forces are transmitted to cells and their components. The MBnc training program will exploit Washington University's strong base of faculty and resources in these areas. It will provide pre-doctoral trainees with fundamental coursework in both biology and mechanics, and research training at the intersection of these disciplines. Support for six trainees per year is requested. Each trainee will be supported for two years, typically the third and fourth year of graduate study. Trainees who participate in this program will be prepared to perform advanced interdisciplinary research on the role of mechanics in biology across length scales, and will thus fill an important and growing need in the scientific community.