Protein micro patterned lattices to probe a fundamental lengthscale involved in cell adhesion

TL;DR

This study uses micro-patterned protein lattices to investigate a fundamental lengthscale in cell adhesion, revealing how cell cytoskeleton organization depends on geometric constraints and active spreading processes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel micro-patterning approach to probe the lengthscale involved in cell adhesion and cytoskeleton organization.

Findings

Cells self-organize into geometrical patterns on micro lattices

Organized cells remain functional and proliferate

Evidence suggests a fundamental lengthscale in cell spreading processes

Abstract

Cell adhesion, a fundamental process of cell biology is involved in the embryo development and in numerous pathologies especially those related to cancers. We constrained cells to adhere on extracellular matrix proteins patterned in a micro lattices. The actin cytoskeleton is particularly sensitive to this constraint and reproducibly self organizes in simple geometrical patterns. Such highly organized cells are functional and proliferate. We performed statistical analysis of spread cells morphologies and discuss the existence of a fundamental lengthscale associated with active processes required for spreading.