Cell response to extracellular matrix viscous energy dissipation outweighs high-rigidity sensing.

ABSTRACT: The mechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) determine cell activity and fate through mechanoresponsive proteins including Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP). Rigidity and viscous relaxation have emerged as the main mechanical properties of the ECM steering cell behavior. However, how cells integrate coexisting ECM rigidity and viscosity cues remains poorly understood, particularly in the high-stiffness regime. Here, we have exploited engineered stiff viscoelastic protein hydrogels to show that, contrary to current models of cell-ECM interaction, substrate viscous energy dissipation attenuates mechanosensing even when cells are exposed to higher effective rigidity. This unexpected behavior is however readily captured by a pull-and-hold model of molecular clutch-based cell mechanosensing, wh

SUBMITTER: Huerta-Lopez C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11567001 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature