Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 7: Posters: Cell adhesion, mechanics and migration

BP 7.12: Poster

Monday, March 31, 2014, 17:30–19:30, P3

Distinct response of adherent cells to substrate elasticity and ligand affinity — •Christina Müller and Tilo Pompe — Institute of Biochemistry, Universität Leipzig, Germany

Cell fate decisions are triggered by physicochemical cues from the microenvironment. The mechanical properties of tissue, like stiffness or viscosity, can severely influence cells in their signaling, a process commonly referred to as 'mechanotransduction'. In this context we want to elucidate the impact of substrate stiffness and molecular friction of non-covalently attached adhesion ligands on early cell adhesion. We monitored human endothelial cells (HUVEC) on tailored polyacrylamide hydrogel layers with a graded stiffness in the range of 1 kPa to 10 kPa and a maleic acid copolymer coating. Coatings of different hydrophobicity provide a graded affinity for non-covalently attached fibronectin ligands. We used time-resolved Traction Force Microscopy to monitor the force generation of cells respective to substrate stiffness and ligand affinity during the first two hours of cell adhesion. For characterization of the cell response we determined the maximum traction stress Tmax,net contractile moment Mnet and strain energy U. We found differences in the temporal regulation of the local forces at the adhesion sites and the global contractility of adherent cells. While ligand affinity limits the slope and maximum value of cell traction stress, the total cell contractility is affected by substrate stiffness. In parallel, we investigate intracellular signaling processes to correlate the force generation to the biochemical key players in the cell's response to mechanical substrate parameters.