Discher

Cells make a number of key decisions by actively applying forces to the objects that they ‘touch’, responding to the softness or stiffness of their microenvironment.  Changes range from reorganization of the cell-skeleton to Active Nematic, Smectic or Isotropic states to major alterations in Nuclear Shape and Gene Expression.  Experiments and simple models will be described that capture the essence of these phenomena in addressing the question how deeply cells feel.

(1) A. Engler, S. Sen, H.L. Sweeney, and D.E. Discher.  Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell 126: 677-689 (2006).
(2) C.P. Johnson, H-Y. Tang, C. Carag, D.W. Speicher, and D.E. Discher.  Forced unfolding of proteins within cells. Science 317: 663-666 (2007).
(3) A. Zemel, F.Rehfeldt, A.E.X. Brown, D.E. Discher, and S.A. Safran.  Optimal matrix rigidity in the self-polarization of stem cells. Nature Physics 6: 468 - 473 (2010).