Physics of cell adhesion: some lessons from cell-mimetic systems

Sackmann E, Smith AS (2014)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Soft Matter Royal Society of Chemistry

Publisher: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Book Volume: 10

Pages Range: 1644-1659

Journal Issue: 11

URI: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/SM/c3sm51910d#!divAbstract

DOI: 10.1039/c3sm51910d

Abstract

Cell adhesion is a paradigm of the ubiquitous interplay of cell signalling, modulation of material properties and biological functions of cells. It is controlled by competition of short range attractive forces, medium range repellant forces and the elastic stresses associated with local and global deformation of the composite cell envelopes. We review the basic physical rules governing the physics of cell adhesion learned by studying cell-mimetic systems and demonstrate the importance of these rules in the context of cellular systems. We review how adhesion induced micro-domains couple to the intracellular actin and microtubule networks allowing cells to generate strong forces with a minimum of attractive cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and to manipulate other cells through filopodia over micrometer distances. The adhesion strength can be adapted to external force fluctuations within seconds by varying the density of attractive and repellant CAMs through exocytosis and endocytosis or protease-mediated dismantling of the CAM-cytoskeleton link. Adhesion domains form local end global biochemical reaction centres enabling the control of enzymes. Actin-microtubule crosstalk at adhesion foci facilitates the mechanical stabilization of polarized cell shapes. Axon growth in tissue is guided by attractive and repulsive clues controlled by antagonistic signalling pathways.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ana-Suncana Smith Physics Underlying Life Science (PULS)

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials (EAM)

Related research project(s)

Biological Membranes in Action: A Unified Approach to Complexation, Scaffolding and Active Transport (MEMBRANESACT) Oct. 1, 2013 - Sept. 30, 2019

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Sackmann, E., & Smith, A.-S. (2014). Physics of cell adhesion: some lessons from cell-mimetic systems. Soft Matter, 10(11), 1644-1659. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3sm51910d

MLA:

Sackmann, Erich, and Ana-Suncana Smith. "Physics of cell adhesion: some lessons from cell-mimetic systems." Soft Matter 10.11 (2014): 1644-1659.

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