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Cytoplasm rheology and its role cellular blebbing dynamics
Mathematical Biology| Speaker: | Bob Guy, Mathematics Department, UC Davis |
| Related Webpage: | https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~guy/ |
| Location: | 2112 MSB |
| Start time: | Mon, Oct 12 2015, 2:10PM |
Description
The mechanical and rheological description of the cytoplasm has been
the subject of recent interest because intracellular pressure can
drive leading edge protrusion in migrating cells, particularly in 3D
and in confined environments. Blebs are one type of a pressure-driven
protrusion that cells use when migrating on flat substrates as well as
confined and 3D environments, and provide a good experimental system
for probing mechanics of the cytoplasm. Blebbing occurs when the
cytoskeleton detaches from the cell membrane, resulting in the
pressure-driven flow of cytosol towards the area of detachment and the
local expansion of the cell membrane. Recent experiments involving
blebbing cells have led to conflicting hypotheses regarding the time
scale of intracellular pressure propagation. To address this
discrepancy, we develop a dynamic computational model of the cell that
includes mechanics of and the interactions between the intracellular
fluid, the actin cortex, the cell membrane, and the cytoskeleton. We
show that the multiphase poroelastic rheology of cytoplasm is
essential to explain experimental observations. Further our model
reveals multiple timescales in bleb expansion, and both time scales
are needed to explain the apparently conflicting experimental results.
Please let Mariel (mariel@math.ucdavis.edu) know if you would like to meet with the speaker and/or join the dinner.