Collective mechanics of epithelial cell colonies on elastic substrates

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• Banerjee, S (Syracuse University)
• Monday 24 June 2013, 15:00-15:30
• Seminar Room 1, Newton Institute.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Mustapha Amrani.

Mathematical Modelling and Analysis of Complex Fluids and Active Media in Evolving Domains

Crosstalk between cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions plays an essential role in the mechanical function of tissues. The traction stresses exerted by cohesive keratinocyte colonies with strong cell-cell adhesions are mostly concentrated at the colony periphery. In contrast, for weak cadherin-based intercellular adhesions, individual cells in a colony interact with their matrix independently, with disorganized distribution of traction stresses extending throughout the colony. In this talk I will present a minimal physical model of the colony as adherent contractile elastic media coupled to an elastic substrate. The model captures the spatial distribution of traction forces seen in experiments. For cell colonies with strong cell-cell adhesions, the total traction force of the colony measured in experiments is found to scale with the colonys geometrical size. This scaling suggests the emergence of an effective surface tension of magnitude comparable to that measured fo r non-adherent, three-dimensional cell aggregates. The physical model supports the scaling and indicates that the surface tension may be controlled by acto-myosin contractility.

Co-authors: Aaron F. Mertz (Yale University), M. Cristina Marchetti (Syracuse University), Eric R. Dufresne (Yale University), Valerie Horsley (Yale University)

This talk is part of the Isaac Newton Institute Seminar Series series.

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