RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tissue pressure and cell traction compensate to drive robust aggregate spreading
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.08.29.273334
DO 10.1101/2020.08.29.273334
A1 M. S. Yousafzai
A1 V. Yadav
A1 S. Amiri
A1 M.F. Staddon
A1 A. P. Tabatabai
A1 Y. Errami
A1 G. Jaspard
A1 S. Amiri
A1 S. Banerjee
A1 M. Murrell
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/08/31/2020.08.29.273334.abstract
AB In liquid droplets, the balance of interfacial energies and substrate elasticity determines the shape of the droplet and the dynamics of wetting. In living cells, interfacial energies are not constant, but adapt to the mechanics of their environment. As a result, the forces driving the dynamics of wetting for cells and tissues are unclear and may be context specific. In this work, using a combination of experimental measurements and modeling, we show the surface tension of cell aggregates, as models of active liquid droplets, depends upon the size of the aggregate and the magnitude of applied load, which alters the wetting dynamics. Upon wetting rigid substrates, traction stresses are elevated at the boundary, and tension drives forward motion. By contrast, upon wetting compliant substrates, traction forces are attenuated, yet wetting occurs at a comparable rate. In this case, capillary forces at the contact line are elevated and aggregate surface tension contributes to strong outward, pressure-driven cellular flows. Thus, cell aggregates adapt to the mechanics of their environments, using pressure and traction as compensatory mechanisms to drive robust wetting.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.