Berlin 2008 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 1: Cell Migration and Tissue Dynamics

BP 1.4: Vortrag

Montag, 25. Februar 2008, 11:00–11:15, C 243

Pattern formation by biological cells: the influence of mechanical boundary conditions — •Pablo Fernández and Andreas R. Bausch — E22 Biophysik, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany

Mechanotransduction, the ability of living cells to sense mechanical tension and accordingly modify their phenotype, is drawing increased attention both from biologists and physicists as a general phenomenon in eukaryotic cells, comparable to chemotaxis in its physiological importance. As most cells spontaneously exert contractile forces under adhesive conditions, the possibility arises of their mechanical cross-talk through the extracellular matrix, with fascinating implications for the formation of tissues. Here, we study pattern formation in cell collections as a function of the mechanical boundary conditions. We place osteoblasts inside collagen gels of sizes 0.3–3 mm with various shapes. Within 1–2 days cells elongate into patterns following the asymmetries dictated by the gel shape. The edges of the gel are free and thus provide “zero tension” boundary conditions. Inclusion of pillars to anchor the gel renders them “zero displacement” and changes the cell pattern. As expected for a cooperative effect based on mechanical interactions, a strong effect of cell density is observed. The experiment thus offers a possible approach for a quantitative characterisation of mechanical interaction between cells.