title: Role of catch bonds in actomyosin mechanics and cell mechanosensitivity.
abstract: We propose a mechanism of adherent cell mechanosensing, based on the idea that the contractile actomyosin machinery behaves as a catch bond. For this, we construct a simplified model of the actomyosin structure that constitutes the building block of stress fibers and express the stability of cross bridges in terms of the force-dependent bonding energy of the actomyosin bond. Consistent with experimental measurements, we then consider that the energy barrier of the actomyosin bond increases for tension and show that this response is enough to explain the force-induced stabilization of a stress fiber. Further numerical simulations at the cellular level show that the catch-bond hypothesis can help in understanding and predict the sensitivity of adherent cells to substrate stiffness.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
authors: Franck J
authors: FJ
authors: Vernerey
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
authors: Umut
authors: U
authors: Akalp
mesh_terms: D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D000205:Actomyosin