SIMULATION OF STRESS FIBER REMODELING AND MIXED-MODE FOCAL ADHESION ASSEMBLY DURING CELL SPREADING AND FOR CELLS ADHERED TO ELASTIC SUBSTRATES

摘要

Cell spreading is governed by two cooperative cellular processes: the association of binding proteins to form focal adhesions, and the active remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton as the cell spreads [1]. The interaction between these two processes is poorly understood, and previous computational models have only examined each process in isolation. Previous studies have established that cells possess the ability to sense and react to their physical environment, for example cells seeded on substrates of varying stiffness exhibit a different cytoskeletal response [2,3].