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The mechanochemistry of cytoskeletal force generation

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Abstract

In this communication, we propose a model to study the non-equilibrium process by which actin stress fibers develop force in contractile cells. The emphasis here is on the non-equilibrium thermodynamics, which is necessary to address the mechanics as well as the chemistry of dynamic cell contractility. In this setting, we are able to develop a framework that relates (a) the dynamics of force generation within the cell and (b) the cell’s response to external stimuli to the chemical processes occurring within the cell, as well as to the mechanics of linkage between the stress fibers, focal adhesions and extracellular matrix.

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Notes

  1. In Olberding et al. (2010), the term treadmilling has been applied to the mechanism of focal adhesion translation.

    Fig. 2
    figure 2

    FA complex binding/unbinding and resulting focal adhesion ends velocities

    Full size image

  2. Note that the right-hand side of inequality (36) is positive, in compliance with condition (31c).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Mirko Maraldi & Krishna Garikipati

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Krishna Garikipati

Authors
  1. Mirko Maraldi
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  2. Krishna Garikipati
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Correspondence to Krishna Garikipati.

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Maraldi, M., Garikipati, K. The mechanochemistry of cytoskeletal force generation. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 14, 59–72 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-014-0588-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-014-0588-2

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