Abstract
Cell size and shape affect cellular processes such as cell survival, growth and differentiation1,2,3,4, thus establishing cell geometry as a fundamental regulator of cell physiology. The contributions of the cytoskeleton, specifically actomyosin tension, to these effects have been described, but the exact biophysical mechanisms that translate changes in cell geometry to changes in cell behaviour remain mostly unresolved. Using a variety of innovative materials techniques, we demonstrate that the nanostructure and lipid assembly within the cell plasma membrane are regulated by cell geometry in a ligand-independent manner. These biophysical changes trigger signalling events involving the serine/threonine kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) that direct cell-geometry-dependent mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Our study defines a central regulatory role by plasma membrane ordered lipid raft microdomains in modulating stem cell differentiation with potential translational applications.
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Acknowledgements
We thank H. M. Textor and F. Anderegg (ETH Zurich) for providing silicon masters for micro-contact printing as well as S. Rothery for training and guidance regarding TIRF microscopy (FILM facility at Imperial College London). T.C.v.E. was supported by an EPSRC DTA PhD award. S.B. was supported by the Rosetrees Trust and the Stoneygate Trust and the Junior Research Fellowship scheme at Imperial College London. M.M.S. gratefully acknowledges ERC starting grant “Naturale” for funding (206807), Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award (098411/Z/12/Z) and the Rosetrees Trust. A.D.R.H. gratefully acknowledges ERC starting grant "ForceRegulation' (282051).
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T.C.v.E. designed experiments, developed the substrates and conducted experiments, analysed and interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript. S.B. designed and carried out ion and electron microscopy experiments and analysed the data. M.A.W. conducted viral transfection experiments and revised the manuscript. C.K. performed 3D plasma membrane reconstruction and analysis. B.K.R. and S.A. conducted AFM measurements. C.-M.H. carried out western blots. C.S.C. revised the manuscript and consulted in experimental design. A.D.R.H. revised the manuscript and supervised S.A. H.A. helped with hMSC cultivation and differentiation experiments and revised the manuscript. S.A.M. helped with cell micropattern preparations and revised the manuscript. S.G. supervised the project, helped in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and co-wrote the manuscript. M.M.S. supervised the project, co-wrote the manuscript and helped in experimental design and data interpretation.
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von Erlach, T.C., Bertazzo, S., Wozniak, M.A. et al. Cell-geometry-dependent changes in plasma membrane order direct stem cell signalling and fate. Nature Mater 17, 237–242 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-017-0014-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-017-0014-0
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