Micropatterning of single endothelial cell shape reveals a tight coupling between nuclear volume in G1 and proliferation.

ABSTRACT: Shape-dependent local differentials in cell proliferation are considered to be a major driving mechanism of structuring processes in vivo, such as embryogenesis, wound healing, and angiogenesis. However, the specific biophysical signaling by which changes in cell shape contribute to cell cycle regulation remains poorly understood. Here, we describe our study of the roles of nuclear volume and cytoskeletal mechanics in mediating shape control of proliferation in single endothelial cells. Micropatterned adhesive islands were used to independently control cell spreading and elongation. We show that, irrespective of elongation, nuclear volume and apparent chromatin decondensation of cells in G1 systematically increased with cell spreading and highly correlated with DNA synthesis (percent of ce

SUBMITTER: Roca-Cusachs P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2397343 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature