Optogenetic control of cell behaviour (MechanoSwitch)
Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
Cell Biology
Final Report Abstract
The main aim of the MechanoSwitch project is the spatio-temporal analysis and modeling of cellular mechanical responses during times of changes in the cell organization. Considering cells as photo-inducible mechanical dipoles, we expose them to photo-activation patterns inducing their internal contractile machinery to generate and trigger cellular mechanical events. We are combining this approach with mathematical modelling. Practically, we are combining optogenetics for cell contractility with traction force microscopy, thus achieving an immediate relation between cell input and output. Mathematical models for cell organization and cell generated forces are first parametrized by the experimental data and then used to design the new round of experiments. By predicting the appropriate illumination patterns for optogenetics, we study the active mechanical coupling between cells and the basis of the mechanical stability of those living architectures.
Publications
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Cell size and actin architecture determine force generation in optogenetically activated cells. Biophysical Journal, 122(4), 684-696.
Andersen, T.; Wörthmüller, D.; Probst, D.; Wang, I.; Moreau, P.; Fitzpatrick, V.; Boudou, T.; Schwarz, U.S. & Balland, M.
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Force propagation between epithelial cells depends on active coupling and mechano-structural polarization. eLife, 12.
Ruppel, Artur; Wörthmüller, Dennis; Misiak, Vladimir; Kelkar, Manasi; Wang, Irène; Moreau, Philippe; Méry, Adrien; Révilloud, Jean; Charras, Guillaume; Cappello, Giovanni; Boudou, Thomas; Schwarz, Ulrich S. & Balland, Martial
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Light-driven biological actuators to probe the rheology of 3D microtissues. Nature Communications, 14(1).
Méry, Adrien; Ruppel, Artur; Revilloud, Jean; Balland, Martial; Cappello, Giovanni & Boudou, Thomas
