84719 20191113143159.0 doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0049174 sideral 80051 ART-2012-80051 eng (orcid)0000-0002-3784-1140 Borau, C. Universidad de Zaragoza Dynamic Mechanisms of Cell Rigidity Sensing: Insights from a Computational Model of Actomyosin Networks 2012 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Cells modulate themselves in response to the surrounding environment like substrate elasticity, exhibiting structural reorganization driven by the contractility of cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is the scaffolding structure of eukaryotic cells, playing a central role in many mechanical and biological functions. It is composed of a network of actins, actin cross-linking proteins (ACPs), and molecular motors. The motors generate contractile forces by sliding couples of actin filaments in a polar fashion, and the contractile response of the cytoskeleton network is known to be modulated also by external stimuli, such as substrate stiffness. This implies an important role of actomyosin contractility in the cell mechano-sensing. However, how cells sense matrix stiffness via the contractility remains an open question. Here, we present a 3-D Brownian dynamics computational model of a cross-linked actin network including the dynamics of molecular motors and ACPs. The mechano-sensing properties of this active network are investigated by evaluating contraction and stress in response to different substrate stiffness. Results demonstrate two mechanisms that act to limit internal stress: (i) In stiff substrates, motors walk until they exert their maximum force, leading to a plateau stress that is independent of substrate stiffness, whereas (ii) in soft substrates, motors walk until they become blocked by other motors or ACPs, leading to submaximal stress levels. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the role of molecular motors in the contraction and rigidity sensing of cells. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/BES-2010-029927-FPI info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/DPI2009-14115-CO3-01 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ 3.73 2012 MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES 7 / 57 = 0.123 2012 Q1 T1 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Kim, T. Bidone, T. (orcid)0000-0002-9864-7683 García-Aznar, J. M. Universidad de Zaragoza Kamm, R. D. 5004 605 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica Área Mec.Med.Cont. y Teor.Est. 7, 11 (2012), e49174 [8 PP.] PLoS One PloS one 1932-6203 1193221 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/84719/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 130625 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/84719/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:84719 articulos driver 2019-11-13-13:41:18 ARTICLE