# Microtubules Disruption Alters the Cellular Structures and Mechanics Depending on Underlying Chemical Cues

## TL;DR

This study explores how chemical cues from the extracellular matrix affect cell shape and stiffness by influencing microtubules.

## Contribution

The study reveals how microtubules respond to chemical cues like cRGD density, affecting cell morphology and mechanics.

## Key findings

- Microtubules act as scaffolds in elongated cell morphology on low cRGD surfaces.
- MTs influence nucleus shape and cell mechanics based on cRGD density.
- MTs, actin, and vimentin show coordinated responses to cRGD density changes.

## Abstract

The extracellular matrix determines cell morphology and stiffness by manipulating the cytoskeleton. The impacts of extracellular matrix cues, including the mechanical and topographical cues on microtubules and their role in biological behaviors, are previously studied. However, there is a lack of understanding about how microtubules (MTs) are affected by environmental chemical cues, such as extracellular matrix density. Specifically, it is crucial to understand the connection between cellular morphology and mechanics induced by chemical cues and the role of microtubules in these cellular responses. To address this, surfaces with high and low cRGD (cyclic Arginine‐Glycine‐Aspartic acid) peptide ligand densities are used. The cRGD is diluted with a bioinert ligand to prevent surface native cellular remodeling. The cellular morphology, actin, and microtubules differ on these surfaces. Confocal fluorescence microscopes and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to determine the structural and mechanical cellular responses with and without microtubules. Microtubules are vital as an intracellular scaffold in elongated morphology correlated with low cRGD compared to rounded morphology in high cRGD substrates. The contributions of MTs to nucleus morphology and cellular mechanics are based on the underlying cRGD densities. Finally, this study reveals a significant correlation between MTs, actin networks, and vimentin in response to the underlying densities of cRGD.

Here, bio‐inert surfaces are used as a platform to study the relationship between cellular morphology and mechanics, which are influenced by chemical cues and microtubules. These surfaces will bear different densities of high and low ECM‐derived peptides (cRGD) as a chemical cue to investigate how microtubule disruption alters these cellular responses.