RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Extracellular Forces Cause the Nucleus to Deform in a Highly Controlled Anisotropic Manner
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 027888
DO 10.1101/027888
A1 Kristina Haase
A1 Joan K. L. Macadangdang
A1 Claire H. Edrington
A1 Charles M. Cuerrier
A1 Sebastian Hadjiantoniou
A1 James L. Harden
A1 Ilona S. Skerjanc
A1 Andrew E. Pelling
YR 2016
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/01/21/027888.abstract
AB Physical forces arising in the extra-cellular environment have a profound impact on cell fate and gene regulation; however the underlying biophysical mechanisms that control this sensitivity remain elusive. It is hypothesized that gene expression may be influenced by the physical deformation of the nucleus in response to force. Here, using 3T3s as a model, we demonstrate that extra-cellular forces cause cell nuclei to rapidly deform (< 1 s) preferentially along their shorter nuclear axis, in an anisotropic manner. Nuclear anisotropy is shown to be regulated by the cytoskeleton within intact cells, with actin and microtubules resistant to orthonormal strains. Importantly, nuclear anisotropy is intrinsic, and observed in isolated nuclei. The sensitivity of this behaviour is influenced by chromatin organization and lamin-A expression. An anisotropic response to force was also highly conserved amongst an array of examined nuclei from differentiated and undifferentiated cell types. Although the functional purpose of this conserved material property remains elusive, it may provide a mechanism through which mechanical cues in the microenvironment are rapidly transmitted to the genome.