Fine tuning of tissues' viscosity and surface tension through contractility suggests a new role for α-catenin.

ABSTRACT: What governs tissue organization and movement? If molecular and genetic approaches are able to give some answers on these issues, more and more works are now giving a real importance to mechanics as a key component eventually triggering further signaling events. We chose embryonic cell aggregates as model systems for tissue organization and movement in order to investigate the origin of some mechanical constraints arising from cells organization. Steinberg et al. proposed a long time ago an analogy between liquids and tissues and showed that indeed tissues possess a measurable tissue surface tension and viscosity. We question here the molecular origin of these parameters and give a quantitative measurement of adhesion versus contractility in the framework of the differential interfacial te

SUBMITTER: Stirbat TV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3563668 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature