Cell function control utilizing intranuclear dispersion of DNA induced with mechanical stimulation

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22960
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 90:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Takeo 名古屋大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (30209639)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 前田 英次郎 名古屋大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (20581614)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: バイオメカニクス / メカノバイオロジー / 細胞核 / クロマチン / DNA / 力学刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted to control cell function utilizing intranuclear dispersion of DNA induced with mechanical deformation of the nucleus. We fabricated a PDMS substrate having a narrow groove with a depth of 35 μm and a width of about 10 μm, and stretched it to widen the groove to make cultured osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) into the groove. The substrate was then released to compress cell nuclei along with the cytoplasm by 15-20%. No change was observed in the number or volume of DNA aggregates in one compression, but the total volume of the aggregates decreased when they are compressed five times. The number of the aggregates increased or decreased depending on the sample. The total volume of aggregates may decrease when the nuclei receive enough amount of compression stimulus. With regard to their number, the change was not simple for it may increase when the aggregates split and may decrease when the split volume become below the measurement limit.

Free Research Field

バイオメカニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞核を圧縮することでクロマチン凝集体の総体積が減少することは判っていたが，17％の1回の圧縮では変化しないが，それより小さい15%であっても５回の圧縮で減少する，即ち，圧縮量だけでなく，回数も重要であることが判った点が第１の成果である．また従来，凝集体の個数も減少するものと思われてきたが，場合によって増える場合もあることが分かり，圧縮により大きな凝集塊が複数の小さな凝集塊に分裂する可能性，小さな凝集塊が分裂して計測限界以下の大きさになる可能性な考えられることが判った点が第２の成果と言える．