Contractile forces of nonmuscle actomyosin bundles regulated with MRLC phosphorylation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26750140
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Matsui Tsubasa 名古屋工業大学, 工学部, 研究員 (50638707)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: メカノバイオロジー / 非筋ミオシン / ストレスファイバー / 細胞バイオメカニクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Contractile forces generated by nonmuscle actomyosin contraction in adherent cells play important roles in cellular morphology, differentiation, and cell fate decisions. It would be considered that the forces are regulated by phosphorylation of MRLC molecules. This finding was based on smooth muscle tissue level researches. However, no direct measurements of the forces have been performed at individual cell levels. To elucidate this relationship, we perform silicone gel based-contraction assay. Our study suggests that cells generate higher forces with increase in phosphorylation of MRLC. Moreover, we found that MRLC mutants with exchangeable amino-acid residues are more effective in generating contractile forces.

Free Research Field

生体材料学