complexity of the tensegrity structure for dynamic energy and force distribution of cytoskeleton during cell spreading张拉整体结构的复杂性动态能量和力分布的细胞骨架在细胞扩散.pdf

Complexity of the Tensegrity Structure for Dynamic Energy and Force Distribution of Cytoskeleton during Cell Spreading 1 2 3 4 1 Ting-Jung Chen , Chia-Ching Wu *, Ming-Jer Tang , Jong-Shin Huang , Fong-Chin Su * 1 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, 2 Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, 3 Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, 4 Department of Civil Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan Abstract Cytoskeleton plays important roles in intracellular force equilibrium and extracellular force transmission from/to attaching substrate through focal adhesions (FAs). Numerical simulations of intracellular force distribution to describe dynamic cell behaviors are still limited. The tensegrity structure comprises tension-supporting cables and compression-supporting struts that represent the actin filament and microtubule respectively, and has many features consistent with living cells. To simulate the dynamics of intracellular force distribution and total stored energy during cell spreading, the present study employed different complexities of the tensegrity structures by using octahedron tensegrity (OT) and cuboctahedron tensegrity (COT). The spreading was simulated by assigning specific connection nodes for radial displacement and attachment to substrate to form FAs. The traction force on each FA was estimated by summarizing the force carried in sounding cytoskeletal elements. The OT structure consisted of 24 cables and 6 struts and had limitations soon after the beginning of spreading by declining energy stored in strut