Viscoelastic extracellular matrix enhances epigenetic remodeling and cellular plasticity.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular matrices of living tissues exhibit viscoelastic properties, yet how these properties regulate chromatin and the epigenome remains unclear. Here, we show that viscoelastic substrates induce changes in nuclear architecture and epigenome, with more pronounced effects on softer surfaces. Fibroblasts on viscoelastic substrates display larger nuclei, lower chromatin compaction, and differential expression of distinct sets of genes related to the cytoskeleton and nuclear function, compared to those on elastic surfaces. Slow-relaxing viscoelastic substrates reduce lamin A/C expression and enhance nuclear remodeling. These structural changes are accompanied by a global increase in euchromatin marks and local increase in chromatin accessibility at cis-regulatory elements associated wit

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12043949 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature