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Resolving the Stiffening-Softening Paradox in Cell Mechanics

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  • Lars Wolff
  • Pablo Fernández
  • Klaus Kroy

Abstract

Background: Despite their notorious diversity, biological cells are mechanically well characterized by only a few robust and universal laws. Intriguingly, the law characterizing the nonlinear response to stretch appears self-contradictory. Various cell types have been reported to both stiffen and soften, or “fluidize” upon stretch. Within the classical paradigm of cells as viscoelastic bodies, this constitutes a paradox. Principal Findings: Our measurements reveal that minimalistic reconstituted cytoskeletal networks (F-actin/HMM) exhibit a similarly peculiar response. A mathematical model of transiently crosslinked polymer networks, the so-called inelastic glassy wormlike chain (iGwlc) model, can simulate the data and resolve the apparent contradiction. It explains the observations in terms of two antagonistic physical mechanisms, the nonlinear viscoelastic resistance of biopolymers to stretch, and the breaking of weak transient bonds between them. Conclusions: Our results imply that the classical paradigm of cells as viscoelastic bodies has to be replaced by such an inelastic mechanical model.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars Wolff & Pablo Fernández & Klaus Kroy, 2012. "Resolving the Stiffening-Softening Paradox in Cell Mechanics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-7, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0040063
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040063
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xavier Trepat & Linhong Deng & Steven S. An & Daniel Navajas & Daniel J. Tschumperlin & William T. Gerthoffer & James P. Butler & Jeffrey J. Fredberg, 2007. "Universal physical responses to stretch in the living cell," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7144), pages 592-595, May.
    2. Daniel A. Fletcher & R. Dyche Mullins, 2010. "Cell mechanics and the cytoskeleton," Nature, Nature, vol. 463(7280), pages 485-492, January.
    3. Leland H. Hartwell & John J. Hopfield & Stanislas Leibler & Andrew W. Murray, 1999. "From molecular to modular cell biology," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6761), pages 47-52, December.
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