The differential formation of the LINC-mediated perinuclear actin cap in pluripotent and somatic cells

Photomanipulation of Minimal Synthetic Cells: Area Increase, Softening, and Interleaflet Coupling of Membrane Models Doped with Azobenzene-Lipid Photoswitches

Light can effectively interrogate biological systems in a reversible and physiologically compatible manner with high spatiotemporal precision. Understanding the biophysics of photo-induced processes in bio-systems is crucial for achieving relevant clinical applications. Employing membranes doped with the photolipid azobenzene-phosphatidylcholine (azo-PC), a holistic picture of light-triggered changes in membrane kinetics, morphology, and material properties obtained from correlative studies on cell-sized vesicles, Langmuir monolayers, supported lipid bilayers, and molecular dynamics simulations is provided. Light-induced membrane area increases as high as ≈25% and a ten-fold decrease in the membrane bending rigidity is observed upon trans-to-cis azo-PC isomerization associated with membrane leaflet coupling and molecular curvature changes. Vesicle electrodeformation measurements and atomic force microscopy reveal that trans azo-PC bilayers are thicker than palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayers but have higher specific membrane capacitance and dielectric constant suggesting an increased ability to store electric charges across the membrane. Lastly, incubating POPC vesicles with azo-PC solutions results in the insertion of azo-PC in the membrane enabling them to become photoresponsive. All these results demonstrate that light can be used to finely manipulate the shape, mechanical and electric properties of photolipid-doped minimal cell models, and liposomal drug carriers, thus, presenting a promising therapeutic alternative for the repair of cellular disorders.

Syndecan-4 and stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha functionalized endovascular scaffold facilitates adhesion, spreading and differentiation of endothelial colony forming cells and functions under flow and shear stress conditions

Acellular vascular scaffolds with capture molecules have shown great promise in recruiting circulating endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) to promote in vivo endothelialization. A microenvironment conducive to cell spreading and differentiation following initial cell capture are key to the eventual formation of a functional endothelium. In this study, syndecan-4 and stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha were used to functionalize an elastomeric biomaterial composed of poly(glycerol sebacate), Silk Fibroin and Type I Collagen, termed PFC, to enhance ECFC-material interaction. Functionalized PFC (fPFC) showed significantly greater ECFCs capture capability under physiological flow. Individual cell spreading area on fPFC (1474 ± 63 μm² ) was significantly greater than on PFC (1187 ± 54 μm² ) as early as 2 h, indicating enhanced cell-material interaction. Moreover, fPFC significantly upregulated the expression of endothelial cell specific markers such as platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (24-fold) and Von Willebrand Factor (11-fold) compared with tissue culture plastic after 7 days, demonstrating differentiation of ECFCs into endothelial cells. fPFC fabricated as small diameter conduits and tested using a pulsatile blood flow bioreactor were stable and maintained function. The findings suggest that the new surface functionalization strategy proposed here results in an endovascular material with enhanced endothelialization.

A static force model to analyze the nuclear deformation on cell adhesion to vertical nanostructures

Vertical nanostructures have been found to induce the deformation of the nuclear envelope during cell adhesion. However, there has been a lack of quantitative analysis of the influence of nanostructures morphology on the degree of nuclear deformation. Here, a theoretical model was proposed to investigate the mechanism of nuclear deformation by analyzing the mechanical force balance. Based on the established model, we analyzed the effects of the morphology of the nanopillar array on nuclear deformation and gave the quantitative relationship of the deformation depth of the nucleus with the pitch and radius of nanopillars. Our theoretical results seem to show broad agreements with experimental observations, which implies that the work can provide useful guidance to the design of nanostructures for biomedical applications.

Covariation of Pluripotency Markers and Biomechanical Properties in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Pluripotent cells are subject to much interest as a source of differentiated cellular material for research models, regenerative medical therapies and novel applications such as lab-cultured meat. Greater understanding of the pluripotent state and control over its differentiation is therefore desirable. The role of biomechanical properties in directing cell fate and cell behavior has been increasingly well described in recent years. However, many of the mechanisms which control cell morphology and mechanical properties in somatic cells are absent from pluripotent cells. We leveraged naturally occurring variation in biomechanical properties and expression of pluripotency genes in murine ESCs to investigate the relationship between these parameters. We observed considerable variation in a Rex1-GFP expression reporter line and found that this variation showed no apparent correlation to cell spreading morphology as determined by circularity, Feret ratio, phase contrast brightness or cell spread area, either on a parameter-by-parameter basis, or when evaluated using a combined metric derived by principal component analysis from the four individual criteria. We further confirmed that cell volume does not co-vary with Rex1-GFP expression. Interestingly, we did find that a subpopulation of cells that were readily detached by gentle agitation collectively exhibited higher expression of Nanog, and reduced LmnA expression, suggesting that elevated pluripotency gene expression may correlate with reduced adhesion to the substrate. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy and quantitative fluorescent imaging revealed a connection between cell stiffness and Rex1-GFP reporter expression. Cells expressing high levels of Rex1-GFP are consistently of a relatively low stiffness, while cells with low levels of Rex1-GFP tend toward higher stiffness values. These observations indicate some interaction between pluripotency gene expression and biomechanical properties, but also support a strong role for other interactions between the cell culture regime and cellular biomechanical properties, occurring independently of the core transcriptional network that supports pluripotency.

The transcription factor PREP1(PKNOX1) regulates nuclear stiffness, the expression of LINC complex proteins and mechanotransduction

Mechanosignaling, initiated by extracellular forces and propagated through the intracellular cytoskeletal network, triggers signaling cascades employed in processes as embryogenesis, tissue maintenance and disease development. While signal transduction by transcription factors occurs downstream of cellular mechanosensing, little is known about the cell intrinsic mechanisms that can regulate mechanosignaling. Here we show that transcription factor PREP1 (PKNOX1) regulates the stiffness of the nucleus, the expression of LINC complex proteins and mechanotransduction of YAP-TAZ. PREP1 depletion upsets the nuclear membrane protein stoichiometry and renders nuclei soft. Intriguingly, these cells display fortified actomyosin network with bigger focal adhesion complexes resulting in greater traction forces at the substratum. Despite the high traction, YAP-TAZ translocation is impaired indicating disrupted mechanotransduction. Our data demonstrate mechanosignaling upstream of YAP-TAZ and suggest the existence of a transcriptional mechanism actively regulating nuclear membrane homeostasis and signal transduction through the active engagement/disengagement of the cell from the extracellular matrix.

The transcription factor PREP1 binds to promoter regions of SUN1, SUN2 and LAP2 genes and promotes nuclear stiffness, and its depletion results in impaired mechanotransduction.

Nuclear Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is composed of multinucleated, mature muscle cells (myofibers) responsible for contraction, and a resident pool of mononucleated muscle cell precursors (MCPs), that are maintained in a quiescent state in homeostatic conditions. Skeletal muscle is remarkable in its ability to adapt to mechanical constraints, a property referred as muscle plasticity and mediated by both MCPs and myofibers. An emerging body of literature supports the notion that muscle plasticity is critically dependent upon nuclear mechanotransduction, which is transduction of exterior physical forces into the nucleus to generate a biological response. Mechanical loading induces nuclear deformation, changes in the nuclear lamina organization, chromatin condensation state, and cell signaling, which ultimately impacts myogenic cell fate decisions. This review summarizes contemporary insights into the mechanisms underlying nuclear force transmission in MCPs and myofibers. We discuss how the cytoskeleton and nuclear reorganizations during myogenic differentiation may affect force transmission and nuclear mechanotransduction. We also discuss how to apply these findings in the context of muscular disorders. Finally, we highlight current gaps in knowledge and opportunities for further research in the field.

Role of dynamic nuclear deformation on genomic architecture reorganization

Higher-order genomic architecture varies according to cell type and changes dramatically during differentiation. One of the remarkable examples of spatial genomic reorganization is the rod photoreceptor cell differentiation in nocturnal mammals. The inverted nuclear architecture found in adult mouse rod cells is formed through the reorganization of the conventional architecture during terminal differentiation. However, the mechanisms underlying these changes remain largely unknown. Here, we found that the dynamic deformation of nuclei via actomyosin-mediated contractility contributes to chromocenter clustering and promotes genomic architecture reorganization during differentiation by conducting an in cellulo experiment coupled with phase-field modeling. Similar patterns of dynamic deformation of the nucleus and a concomitant migration of the nuclear content were also observed in rod cells derived from the developing mouse retina. These results indicate that the common phenomenon of dynamic nuclear deformation, which accompanies dynamic cell behavior, can be a universal mechanism for spatiotemporal genomic reorganization.

The motion and spatial reorganization of sub-nuclear domains have been extensively studied using microscopy, but the underlying mechanisms that promote the reorganization are still poorly understood. We found that dynamic nuclear deformation provides a driving force for long-range migration and aggressive clustering of chromocenters, which ultimately induces nuclear architecture reorganization. This study significantly contributes to an improved understanding of the role of nuclear deformation and reorganization of nuclear architecture that seems complex but is based on simple physical properties of the cell.

Combating osteoporosis and obesity with exercise: leveraging cell mechanosensitivity

Osteoporosis, a condition of skeletal decline that undermines quality of life, is treated with pharmacological interventions that are associated with poor adherence and adverse effects. Complicating efforts to improve clinical outcomes, the incidence of obesity is increasing, predisposing the population to a range of musculoskeletal complications and metabolic disorders. Pharmacological management of obesity has yet to deliver notable reductions in weight and debilitating complications are rarely avoided. By contrast, exercise shows promise as a non-invasive and non-pharmacological method of regulating both osteoporosis and obesity. The principal components of exercise - mechanical signals - promote bone and muscle anabolism while limiting formation and expansion of fat mass. Mechanical regulation of bone and marrow fat might be achieved by regulating functions of differentiated cells in the skeletal tissue while biasing lineage selection of their common progenitors - mesenchymal stem cells. An inverse relationship between adipocyte versus osteoblast fate selection from stem cells is implicated in clinical conditions such as childhood obesity and increased marrow adiposity in type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as contributing to skeletal frailty. Understanding how exercise-induced mechanical signals can be used to improve bone quality while decreasing fat mass and metabolic dysfunction should lead to new strategies to treat chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and obesity.

Biomechanical regulation of EMT and epithelial morphogenesis in amniote epiblast

Epiblast is composed of pluripotent cells which will give rise to all cell lineages in a human body. It forms a single-cell layered epithelium conserved among all amniotic vertebrates (birds, reptiles and mammals) and undergoes complex morphogenesis both before and during gastrulation. Our knowledge of the amniote epiblast is based on data acquired through cellular and molecular analyses of early chick and mouse embryos in vivo and mammalian pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in vitro. Very few studies have been published on biomechanical characteristics of the amniote epiblast, largely due to lack of experimental tools for measuring and perturbing biomechanical properties. Also missing is a conceptual framework that can integrate both biomechanical and molecular parameters of the epiblast. This review is aimed at providing a background based on which epiblast morphogenesis, including its transition between the epithelial and mesenchymal states, can be understood from a biomechanical perspective. This simple developmental biology system is suitable for testing a multitude of theoretical models in biomechanics, leading to a better understanding of biomechanical logics and constraints governing multicellular organization.

Signal Transduction across the Nuclear Envelope: Role of the LINC Complex in Bidirectional Signaling

The primary functions of the nuclear envelope are to isolate the nucleoplasm and its contents from the cytoplasm as well as maintain the spatial and structural integrity of the nucleus. The nuclear envelope also plays a role in the transfer of various molecules and signals to and from the nucleus. To reach the nucleus, an extracellular signal must be transmitted across three biological membranes: the plasma membrane, as well as the inner and outer nuclear membranes. While signal transduction across the plasma membrane is well characterized, signal transduction across the nuclear envelope, which is essential for cellular functions such as transcriptional regulation and cell cycle progression, remains poorly understood. As a physical entity, the nuclear envelope, which contains more than 100 proteins, functions as a binding scaffold for both the cytoskeleton and the nucleoskeleton, and acts in mechanotransduction by relaying extracellular signals to the nucleus. Recent results show that the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, which is a conserved molecular bridge that spans the nuclear envelope and connects the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton, is also capable of transmitting information bidirectionally between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. This short review discusses bidirectional signal transduction across the nuclear envelope, with a particular focus on mechanotransduction.

Emerin modulates spatial organization of chromosome territories in cells on softer matrices

Cells perceive and relay external mechanical forces into the nucleus through the nuclear envelope. Here we examined the effect of lowering substrate stiffness as a paradigm to address the impact of altered mechanical forces on nuclear structure-function relationships. RNA sequencing of cells on softer matrices revealed significant transcriptional imbalances, predominantly in chromatin associated processes and transcriptional deregulation of human Chromosome 1. Furthermore, 3-Dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D-FISH) analyses showed a significant mislocalization of Chromosome 1 and 19 Territories (CT) into the nuclear interior, consistent with their transcriptional deregulation. However, CT18 with relatively lower transcriptional dysregulation, also mislocalized into the nuclear interior. Furthermore, nuclear Lamins that regulate chromosome positioning, were mislocalized into the nuclear interior in response to lowered matrix stiffness. Notably, Lamin B2 overexpression retained CT18 near the nuclear periphery in cells on softer matrices. While, cells on softer matrices also activated emerin phosphorylation at a novel Tyr99 residue, the inhibition of which in a phospho-deficient mutant (emerinY99F), selectively retained chromosome 18 and 19 but not chromosome 1 territories at their conserved nuclear locations. Taken together, emerin functions as a key mechanosensor, that modulates the spatial organization of chromosome territories in the interphase nucleus.

Role of the Nucleus as a Sensor of Cell Environment Topography

The proper integration of biophysical cues from the cell vicinity is crucial for cells to maintain homeostasis, cooperate with other cells within the tissues, and properly fulfill their biological function. It is therefore crucial to fully understand how cells integrate these extracellular signals for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Topography has emerged as a prominent component of the cellular microenvironment that has pleiotropic effects on cell behavior. This progress report focuses on the recent advances in the understanding of the topography sensing mechanism with a special emphasis on the role of the nucleus. Here, recent techniques developed for monitoring the nuclear mechanics are reviewed and the impact of various topographies and their consequences on nuclear organization, gene regulation, and stem cell fate is summarized. The role of the cell nucleus as a sensor of cell-scale topography is further discussed.

Heterochromatin protein (HP)1γ is not only in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm interacting with actin in both cell compartments

Confocal and electron microscopy images, and WB analysis of cellular fractions revealed that HP1γ is in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm of C2C12 myoblasts, myotubes, skeletal and cardiac muscles, N2a, HeLa and HEK293T cells. Signal specificity was tested with different antibodies and by HP1γ knockdown. Leptomycin B treatment of myoblasts increased nuclear HP1γ, suggesting that its nuclear export is Crm-1-dependent. HP1γ exhibited a filamentous pattern of staining partially co-localizing with actin in the cytoplasm of myotubes and myofibrils. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis showed high-density immunogold particles that correspond to HP1γ localized to the Z-disk and A-band of the sarcomere of skeletal muscle. HP1γ partially co-localized with actin in C2C12 myotubes and murine myofibrils. Importantly, actin co-immunoprecipitated with HP1γ in the nuclear and cytosolic fractions of myoblasts. Actin co-immunoprecipitated with HP1γ in myoblasts incubated in the absence or presence of the actin depolymerizing agent cytochalasin D, suggesting that HP1γ may interact with G-and F-actin. In the cytoplasm, HP1γ was associated to the perinuclear actin cap that controls nuclear shape and position. In the nucleus, re-ChIP assays showed that HP1γ-actin associates to the promoter and transcribed regions of the house keeping gene GAPDH, suggesting that HP1γ may function as a scaffold protein for the recruitment of actin to control gene expression. When HP1γ was knocked-down, myoblasts were unable to differentiate or originated thin myotubes. In summary, HP1γ is present in the nucleus and the cytoplasm interacting with actin, a protein complex that may exert different functions depending on its subcellular localization.

The Nuclear Option: Evidence Implicating the Cell Nucleus in Mechanotransduction

Biophysical stimuli presented to cells via microenvironmental properties (e.g., alignment and stiffness) or external forces have a significant impact on cell function and behavior. Recently, the cell nucleus has been identified as a mechanosensitive organelle that contributes to the perception and response to mechanical stimuli. However, the specific mechanotransduction mechanisms that mediate these effects have not been clearly established. Here, we offer a comprehensive review of the evidence supporting (and refuting) three hypothetical nuclear mechanotransduction mechanisms: physical reorganization of chromatin, signaling at the nuclear envelope, and altered cytoskeletal structure/tension due to nuclear remodeling. Our goal is to provide a reference detailing the progress that has been made and the areas that still require investigation regarding the role of nuclear mechanotransduction in cell biology. Additionally, we will briefly discuss the role that mathematical models of cell mechanics can play in testing these hypotheses and in elucidating how biophysical stimulation of the nucleus drives changes in cell behavior. While force-induced alterations in signaling pathways involving lamina-associated polypeptides (LAPs) (e.g., emerin and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3)) and transcription factors (TFs) located at the nuclear envelope currently appear to be the most clearly supported mechanism of nuclear mechanotransduction, additional work is required to examine this process in detail and to more fully test alternative mechanisms. The combination of sophisticated experimental techniques and advanced mathematical models is necessary to enhance our understanding of the role of the nucleus in the mechanotransduction processes driving numerous critical cell functions.

Actomyosin and vimentin cytoskeletal networks regulate nuclear shape, mechanics and chromatin organization

The regulation of nuclear state by the cytoskeleton is an important part of cellular function. Actomyosin stress fibres, microtubules and intermediate filaments have distinct and complementary roles in integrating the nucleus into its environment and influencing its mechanical state. However, the interconnectedness of cytoskeletal networks makes it difficult to dissect their individual effects on the nucleus. We use simple image analysis approaches to characterize nuclear state, estimating nuclear volume, Poisson's ratio, apparent elastic modulus and chromatin condensation. By combining them with cytoskeletal quantification, we assess how cytoskeletal organization regulates nuclear state. We report for a number of cell types that nuclei display auxetic properties. Furthermore, stress fibres and intermediate filaments modulate the mechanical properties of the nucleus and also chromatin condensation. Conversely, nuclear volume and its gross morphology are regulated by intracellular outward pulling forces exerted by myosin. The modulation exerted by the cytoskeleton onto the nucleus results in changes that are of similar magnitude to those observed when the nucleus is altered intrinsically, inducing chromatin decondensation or cell differentiation. Our approach allows pinpointing the contribution of distinct cytoskeletal proteins to nuclear mechanical state in physio- and pathological conditions, furthering our understanding of a key aspect of cellular behaviour.

Lamin A/C Cardiomyopathies: Current Understanding and Novel Treatment Strategies

OPINION STATEMENT

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the third leading cause of heart failure in the USA. A major gene associated with DCM with cardiac conduction system disease is lamin A/C (LMNA) gene. Lamins are type V filaments that serve a variety of roles, including nuclear structure support, DNA repair, cell signaling pathway mediation, and chromatin organization. In 1999, LMNA was found responsible for Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) and, since then, has been found in association with a wide spectrum of diseases termed laminopathies, including LMNA cardiomyopathy. Patients with LMNA mutations have a poor prognosis and a higher risk for sudden cardiac death, along with other cardiac effects like dysrhythmias, development of congestive heart failure, and potential need of a pacemaker or ICD. As of now, there is no specific treatment for laminopathies, including LMNA cardiomyopathy, because the mechanism of LMNA mutations in humans is still unclear. This review discusses LMNA mutations and how they relate to DCM, the necessity for further investigation to better understand LMNA mutations, and potential treatment options ranging from clinical and therapeutic to cellular and molecular techniques.

Prelamin A Accumulation Attenuates Rac1 Activity and Increases the Intrinsic Migrational Persistence of Aged Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) motility is essential during both physiological and pathological vessel remodeling. Although ageing has emerged as a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, our understanding of the impact of ageing on VSMC motility remains limited. Prelamin A accumulation is known to drive VSMC ageing and we show that presenescent VSMCs, that have accumulated prelamin A, display increased focal adhesion dynamics, augmented migrational velocity/persistence and attenuated Rac1 activity. Importantly, prelamin A accumulation in proliferative VSMCs, induced by depletion of the prelamin A processing enzyme FACE1, recapitulated the focal adhesion, migrational persistence and Rac1 phenotypes observed in presenescent VSMCs. Moreover, lamin A/C-depleted VSMCs also display reduced Rac1 activity, suggesting that prelamin A influences Rac1 activity by interfering with lamin A/C function at the nuclear envelope. Taken together, these data demonstrate that lamin A/C maintains Rac1 activity in VSMCs and prelamin A disrupts lamin A/C function to reduce Rac1 activity and induce migrational persistence during VSMC ageing.

Dorsal stress fibers, transverse actin arcs, and perinuclear actin fibers form an interconnected network that induces nuclear movement in polarizing fibroblasts

In polarized motile cells, stress fibers display specific three-dimensional organization. Ventral stress fibers, attached to focal adhesions at both ends, are restricted to the basal side of the cell and nonprotruding cell sides. Dorsal fibers, transverse actin arcs, and perinuclear actin fibers emanate from protruding cell front toward the nucleus and toward apical side of the cell. Perinuclear cap fibers further extend above the nucleus, associate with nuclear envelope through LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex and terminate in focal adhesions at cell rear. How are perinuclear actin fibers formed is poorly understood. We show that the formation of perinuclear actin fibers requires dorsal stress fibers that polymerize from focal adhesions at leading edge, and transverse actin arcs that are interconnected with dorsal fibers in spots rich in α-actinin-1. During cell polarization, the interconnected dorsal fibers and transverse arcs move from leading edge toward dorsal side of the cell. As they move, transverse arcs associate with one end of stress fibers present at nonprotruding cell sides, move them above the nucleus thus forming perinuclear actin fibers. Furthermore, the formation of perinuclear actin fibers induces temporal rotational movement of the nucleus resulting in nuclear reorientation to the direction of migration. These results suggest that the network of dorsal fibers, transverse arcs, and perinuclear fibers transfers mechanical signal between the focal adhesions and nuclear envelope that regulates the nuclear reorientation in polarizing cells.

Regulation of nuclear shape and size in plants

Nuclear shape and size changes have long been used by cytopathologists to diagnose, stage, and prognose cancer. However, the underlying causalities and molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The current eukaryotic tree of life groups eukaryotes into five supergroups, with all organisms between humans and yeast falling into the supergroup Opisthokonta. The emergence of model organisms with strong molecular genetic methodology in the other supergroups has recently facilitated a broader evolutionary approach to pressing biological questions. Here, we review what is known about the control of nuclear shape and size in the Archaeplastidae, the supergroup containing the higher plants. We discuss common themes as well as differences toward a more generalized model of how eukaryotic organisms regulate nuclear morphology.

Concise Review: Plasma and Nuclear Membranes Convey Mechanical Information to Regulate Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lineage

Numerous factors including chemical, hormonal, spatial, and physical cues determine stem cell fate. While the regulation of stem cell differentiation by soluble factors is well-characterized, the role of mechanical force in the determination of lineage fate is just beginning to be understood. Investigation of the role of force on cell function has largely focused on "outside-in" signaling, initiated at the plasma membrane. When interfaced with the extracellular matrix, the cell uses integral membrane proteins, such as those found in focal adhesion complexes to translate force into biochemical signals. Akin to these outside-in connections, the internal cytoskeleton is physically linked to the nucleus, via proteins that span the nuclear membrane. Although structurally and biochemically distinct, these two forms of mechanical coupling influence stem cell lineage fate and, when disrupted, often lead to disease. Here we provide an overview of how mechanical coupling occurs at the plasma and nuclear membranes. We also discuss the role of force on stem cell differentiation, with focus on the biochemical signals generated at the cell membrane and the nucleus, and how those signals influence various diseases. While the interaction of stem cells with their physical environment and how they respond to force is complex, an understanding of the mechanical regulation of these cells is critical in the design of novel therapeutics to combat diseases associated with aging, cancer, and osteoporosis. Stem Cells 2016;34:1455-1463.

Morphometric Analysis of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Ventricular Cardiomyocytes: Determining the Maturation State of a Population by Quantifying Parameters in Individual Cells

Quantitative methods were established to determine the level of maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived ventricular cardiomyocytes (hESC-vCMs) that were treated with different metabolic stimulants (i.e., isoproterenol and oleic acid) during early differentiation. Cells were double-immunolabeled with α-actinin and COX IV antibodies, to label the myofibrils and mitochondria, respectively, after which images were acquired via confocal microscopy. In order to determine the extent of differentiation, image analysis protocols were then used to quantify cell shape and area, as well as the degree of myofibrillar organization and intercalation of mitochondria between the myofibrils within the cells. We demonstrated that oleic acid or isoproterenol alone, or a combination of the two, induced a more elongated hESC-vCM phenotype than the untreated controls. In addition, cells treated with isoproterenol alone exhibited a similar level of myofibrillar organization as the controls, but those treated with oleic acid with/without isoproterenol exhibited a more organized (parallel) orientation of myofibrils. The combined isoproterenol/oleic acid treatment also resulted in enhanced intercalation of mitochondria between the myofibrils. We suggest that these quantitative morphometric methods might serve as simple and effective tools that can be utilized in the determination of the level of structural maturation of hESC-vCMs.

Nuclear envelope: positioning nuclei and organizing synapses

The nuclear envelope plays an essential role in nuclear positioning within cells and tissues. This review highlights advances in understanding the mechanisms of nuclear positioning during skeletal muscle and central nervous system development. New findings, particularly about A-type lamins and Nesprin1, may link nuclear envelope integrity to synaptic integrity. Thus synaptic defects, rather than nuclear mispositioning, may underlie human pathologies associated with mutations of nuclear envelope proteins.

Active mechanical coupling between the nucleus, cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix, and the implications for perinuclear actomyosin organization

Experimental and theoretical studies have demonstrated that the polarization of actomyosin forces in the cytoskeleton of adherent cells is governed by local elastic stresses. Based on this phenomenon, and the established observation that the nucleus is mechanically connected to the extracellular matrix (ECM) via the cytoskeleton, we theoretically analyze here the active mechanical coupling between the nucleus, cytoskeleton and the ECM. The cell is modeled as an active spherical inclusion, containing a round nucleus at its center, and embedded in a 3D elastic matrix. We investigate three sources of cellular stress: spreading-induced stress, actomyosin contractility and chromatin entropic forces. Formulating the coupling of actomyosin contractility to the local stress we predict the consequences that the nucleus, cytoskeleton and ECM mechanical properties may have on the overall force-balance in the cell and the perinuclear acto-myosin polarization. We demonstrate that the presence of the nucleus induces symmetry breaking of the elastic stress that, we predict, elastically tends to orient actomyosin alignment tangentially around the nucleus; the softer the nucleus or the matrix, the stronger is the preference for tangential alignment. Spreading induced stresses may induce radial actomyosin alignment near stiff nuclei. In addition, we show that in regions of high actomyosin density myosin motors have an elastic tendency to orient tangentially as often occurs near the cell periphery. These conclusions highlight the role of the nucleus in the regulation of cytoskeleton organization and may provide new insight into the mechanics of stem cell differentiation involving few fold increase in nucleus stiffness.

Cytoskeletal tension induces the polarized architecture of the nucleus

The nuclear lamina is a thin filamentous meshwork that provides mechanical support to the nucleus and regulates essential cellular processes such as DNA replication, chromatin organization, cell division, and differentiation. Isolated horizontal imaging using fluorescence and electron microscopy has long suggested that the nuclear lamina is composed of structurally different A-type and B-type lamin proteins and nuclear lamin-associated membrane proteins that together form a thin layer that is spatially isotropic with no apparent difference in molecular content or density between the top and bottom of the nucleus. Chromosomes are condensed differently along the radial direction from the periphery of the nucleus to the nuclear center; therefore, chromatin accessibility for gene expression is different along the nuclear radius. However, 3D confocal reconstruction reveals instead that major lamin protein lamin A/C forms an apically polarized Frisbee-like dome structure in the nucleus of adherent cells. Here we show that both A-type lamins and transcriptionally active chromatins are vertically polarized by the tension exercised by the perinuclear actin cap (or actin cap) that is composed of highly contractile actomyosin fibers organized at the apical surface of the nucleus. Mechanical coupling between actin cap and lamina through LINC (linkers of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) protein complexes induces an apical distribution of transcription-active subnucleolar compartments and epigenetic markers of transcription-active genes. This study reveals that intranuclear structures, such as nuclear lamina and chromosomal architecture, are apically polarized through the extranuclear perinuclear actin cap in a wide range of somatic adherent cells.

SNAIL-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition produces concerted biophysical changes from altered cytoskeletal gene expression

A growing body of evidence suggests that the developmental process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is co-opted by cancer cells to metastasize to distant sites. This transition is associated with morphologic elongation and loss of cell-cell adhesions, though little is known about how it alters cell biophysical properties critical for migration. Here, we use multiple-particle tracking (MPT) microrheology and traction force cytometry to probe how genetic induction of EMT in epithelial MCF7 breast cancer cells changes their intracellular stiffness and extracellular force exertion, respectively, relative to an empty vector control. This analysis demonstrated that EMT alone was sufficient to produce dramatic cytoskeletal softening coupled with increases in cell-exerted traction forces. Microarray analysis revealed that these changes corresponded with down-regulation of genes associated with actin cross-linking and up-regulation of genes associated with actomyosin contraction. Finally, we show that this loss of structural integrity to expedite migration could inhibit mesenchymal cell proliferation in a secondary tumor as it accumulates solid stress. This work demonstrates that not only does EMT enable escape from the primary tumor through loss of cell adhesions but it also induces a concerted series of biophysical changes enabling enhanced migration of cancer cells after detachment from the primary tumor.

Nuclear positioning by actin cables and perinuclear actin: Special and general?

Nuclear positioning is an important process during development and homeostasis. Depending on the affected tissue, mislocalized nuclei can alter cellular processes such as polarization, differentiation, or migration and lead ultimately to diseases. Many cells actively control the position of their nucleus using their cytoskeleton and motor proteins. We have recently shown that during Drosophila oogenesis, nurse cells employ cytoplasmic actin cables in association with perinuclear actin to position their nucleus. Here, we briefly summarize our work and discuss why nuclear positioning in nurse cells is specialized but the molecular mechanisms are likely to be more generally used.

Model of T-cell nuclear deformation by the cortical actin layer

Deformations of cell nuclei accompany a number of essential intracellular processes. Although evidence is being accumulated on the primary role actin structures play in controlling the shape of the nucleus, the mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unknown. Here, we consider theoretically a specific paradigm of nuclear deformation, and a related actin rearrangement, in T cells stimulated by contact with a bead covered by surrogate antigens. We suggest that the nucleus is deformed by the elastic forces developed within a cylindrical layer of polymerized actin, which is generated as a result of the receptor-mediated T-cell activation. We substantiate this proposal with a theoretical analysis of mutual deformations in the actin layer and the nucleus, which recovers the experimentally observed nuclear shapes. Furthermore, we evaluate the forces developed by the actin polymerization that drives the nuclear deformation. The model predicts the mode of actin polymerization generated by the surrogate antigens covering a bead and the values of the elastic moduli of the nuclear shell. We provide a qualitative experimental support for the model assumptions by visualizing the stages of nuclear shape change and the corresponding evolution of the cortical actin.

KASHing up with the nucleus: novel functional roles of KASH proteins at the cytoplasmic surface of the nucleus

Nuclear-cytoskeletal connections are central to fundamental cellular processes, including nuclear positioning and chromosome movements in meiosis. The cytoskeleton is coupled to the nucleoskeleton through conserved KASH-SUN bridges, or LINC complexes, that span the nuclear envelope. KASH proteins localize to the outer nuclear membrane where they connect the nucleus to the cytoskeleton. New findings have expanded the functional diversity of KASH proteins, showing that they interact with microtubule motors, actin, intermediate filaments, a nonconventional myosin, RanGAP, and each other. The role of KASH proteins in cellular mechanics is discussed. Genetic mutations in KASH proteins are associated with autism, hearing loss, cancer, muscular dystrophy and other diseases.

Sizing and shaping the nucleus: mechanisms and significance

The size and shape of the nucleus are tightly regulated, indicating the physiological significance of proper nuclear morphology, yet the mechanisms and functions of nuclear size and shape regulation remain poorly understood. Correlations between altered nuclear morphology and certain disease states have long been observed, most notably many cancers are diagnosed and staged based on graded increases in nuclear size. Here we review recent studies investigating the mechanisms regulating nuclear size and shape, how mitotic events influence nuclear morphology, and the role of nuclear size and shape in subnuclear chromatin organization and cancer progression.

Nuclear envelope in nuclear positioning and cell migration

Hauling and anchoring the nucleus within immobile or motile cells, tissues, and/or syncytia represents a major challenge. In the past 15 years, Linkers of the Nucleoskeleton to the Cytoskeleton (LINC complexes) have emerged as evolutionary-conserved molecular devices that span the nuclear envelope and provide interacting interfaces for cytoskeletal networks and molecular motors to the nuclear envelope. Here, we review the molecular composition of LINC complexes and focus on how their genetic alteration in vivo has provided a wealth of information related to the relevance of nuclear positioning during tissue development and homeostasis with a special emphasis on the central nervous system. As it may be relevant for metastasis in a range of cancers, the involvement of LINC complexes in migration of nonneuronal cells via its interaction with the perinuclear actin cap will also be developed.

Nuclear forces and cell mechanosensing

Cells respond to mechanical signals, but the subcellular mechanisms are not well understood. The nucleus has recently emerged as an important mechanosensory organelle in the cell, as it is intimately connected to the cytoskeleton. Mechanical forces applied to cells that act on membrane-embedded receptors are transmitted through the cytoskeleton to the nuclear surface. Interfering with linkers of the nucleus to the cytoskeleton causes defects in cell mechanosensing and cell function. In this chapter, we discuss recent work in this area, highlighting the role that the nuclear linkages with the cytoskeleton play in cellular mechanotransduction.

Heading off with the herd: how cancer cells might maneuver supernumerary centrosomes for directional migration

The complicity of centrosomes in carcinogenesis is unmistakable. Mounting evidence clearly implicates a robust correlation between centrosome amplification (CA) and malignant transformation in diverse tissue types. Furthermore, CA has been suggested as a marker of cancer aggressiveness, in particular the invasive phenotype, in breast and prostate cancers. One means by which CA promotes malignancy is through induction of transient spindle multipolarity during mitosis, which predisposes the cell to karyotypic changes arising from low-grade chromosome mis-segregation. It is well recognized that during cell migration in interphase, centrosome-mediated nucleation of a radial microtubule array is crucial for establishing a polarized Golgi apparatus, without which directionality is precluded. The question of how cancer cells maneuver their supernumerary centrosomes to achieve directionality during cell migration is virtually uncharted territory. Given that CA is a hallmark of cancers and has been correlated with cancer aggressiveness, malignant cells are presumably competent in managing their centrosome surfeit during directional migration, although the cellular logistics of this process remain unexplored. Another key angle worth pondering is whether an overabundance of centrosomes confers some advantage on cancer cells in terms of their migratory and invasive capabilities. Recent studies have uncovered a remarkable strategy that cancer cells employ to deal with the problem of excess centrosomes and ensure bipolar mitoses, viz., centrosome clustering. This review aims to change the narrative by exploring how an increased centrosome complement may, via aneuploidy-independent modulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton, enhance directional migration and invasion of malignant cells. We postulate that CA imbues cancer cells with cytoskeletal advantages that enhance cell polarization, Golgi-dependent vesicular trafficking, stromal invasion, and other aspects of metastatic progression. We also propose that centrosome declustering may represent a novel, cancer cell-specific antimetastatic strategy, as cancer cells may rely on centrosome clustering during migration as they do in mitosis. Elucidation of these details offers an exciting avenue for future research, as does investigating how CA may promote metastasis through enhanced directional migration.

Filopodia-like actin cables position nuclei in association with perinuclear actin in Drosophila nurse cells

Controlling the position of the nucleus is vital for a number of cellular processes from yeast to humans. In Drosophila nurse cells, nuclear positioning is crucial during dumping, when nurse cells contract and expel their contents into the oocyte. We provide evidence that in nurse cells, continuous filopodia-like actin cables, growing from the plasma membrane and extending to the nucleus, achieve nuclear positioning. These actin cables move nuclei away from ring canals. When nurse cells contract, actin cables associate laterally with the nuclei, in some cases inducing nuclear turning so that actin cables become partially wound around the nuclei. Our data suggest that a perinuclear actin meshwork connects actin cables to nuclei via actin-crosslinking proteins such as the filamin Cheerio. We provide a revised model for how actin structures position nuclei in nurse cells, employing evolutionary conserved machinery.

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Actin cables in Drosophila nurse cells are unsegmented filopodia-like structures

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E-cadherin is required for the orientation of actin cables toward the nucleus

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Nuclear positioning is achieved by continuous elongation of actin cables

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Actin cables associate with perinuclear actin-containing crosslinkers like filamin

The regulation of dynamic mechanical coupling between actin cytoskeleton and nucleus by matrix geometry

Cells sense their physical microenvironment and transduce these signals through actin-nuclear links to regulate nuclear functions including gene expression. However, the spatio-temporal coupling between perinuclear actin and nucleus and their functional importance are still unclear. Using micropatterned substrates to control cell geometry, we show that perinuclear actin organization at the apical plane remodels from mesh-like structure to stress fibers. The formation of these apical stress fibers (ASFs) correlated with significant reduction in nuclear height and was found to exert an active compressive load on the nucleus via direct contact with mature focal adhesion sites. Interestingly, the dynamic nature of ASFs was found to transduce forces to chromatin assembly. In addition, geometric perturbations or using pharmacological drugs to inhibit actomyosin contractility of ASFs resulted in nuclear instability. Taken together, our work provides direct evidence of physical links between the nucleus and focal adhesion sites via ASFs, which modulate nuclear homeostatic balance and internal chromatin structure. We suggest that such direct links may underlie nuclear mechanotransduction to regulate genomic programs.

Patterning Pluripotent Stem Cells at a Single Cell Level

Studies of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions at a single cell level have drawn interest from scientists around the world. Subcellular ECM micropatterning techniques allow researchers to control cell shape, migration, and spindle orientation during mitosis potentially influencing the stem cell fate. Generally these studies have been limited to somatic cells rather than human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) which are capable of enormous differentiation potential. hPSCs require a defined ECM for attachment and express characteristic integrins mediating cell-substrate interactions. hPSCs also rely on cell-cell contacts for survival and to maintain self-renewal properties, but these circumstances also significantly limit hPSC observation at a single cell level. In addition, currently available methods for ECM micropatterning generally require a facility with trained personnel and intricate equipment to produce protein micropatterns. To overcome this problem, we have developed a protocol for vitronectin micropatterning using simple UV/ozone modification of polystyrene. Single hPSCs were able to attach and form characteristic stress fibers and focal adhesions similar to somatic cell types which demonstrate hPSC responsiveness to extracellular adhesive cues. Micropatterned hPSCs were able to be cultured for up to 48 hours while maintaining expression of pluripotency-associated transcription factor OCT4. Although further studies are necessary, the results of our investigation will potentially have a large impact on cell regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

The multi-faceted role of the actin cap in cellular mechanosensation and mechanotransduction

The perinuclear actin cap (or actin cap) is a recently characterized cytoskeletal organelle composed of thick, parallel, and highly contractile acto-myosin filaments that are specifically anchored to the apical surface of the interphase nucleus. The actin cap is present in a wide range of adherent eukaryotic cells, but is disrupted in several human diseases, including laminopathies and cancer. Through its large terminating focal adhesions and anchorage to the nuclear lamina and nuclear envelope through LINC complexes, the perinuclear actin cap plays a critical role both in mechanosensation and mechanotransduction, the ability of cells to sense changes in matrix compliance and to respond to mechanical forces, respectively.

Mechanobiology of human pluripotent stem cells

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are self-renewing and have the potential to differentiate into any cell type in the body, making them attractive cell sources for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, in order for hPSCs to find use in the clinic, the mechanisms underlying their self-renewal and lineage commitment must be better understood. Many technologies that have been developed for the maintenance and directed differentiation of hPSCs involve the use of soluble growth factors, but recent studies suggest that other elements of the hPSC microenvironment also influence the growth and differentiation of hPSCs. This includes the influences of cell-cell interactions, substrate mechanics, cellular interactions with extracellular matrix, as well as the nanotopography of the substrate and physical forces such as shear stress, cyclic mechanical strain, and compression. In this review, we highlight the recent progress of this area of research and discuss ways in which the mechanical cues may be incorporated into hPSC culture regimes to improve methods for expanding and differentiating hPSCs.

Functional interplay between the cell cycle and cell phenotypes

Cell cycle distribution of adherent cells is typically assessed using flow cytometry, which precludes the measurements of many cell properties and their cycle phase in the same environment. Here we develop and validate a microscopy system to quantitatively analyze the cell-cycle phase of thousands of adherent cells and their associated cell properties simultaneously. This assay demonstrates that population-averaged cell phenotypes can be written as a linear combination of cell-cycle fractions and phase-dependent phenotypes. By perturbing the cell cycle through inhibition of cell-cycle regulators or changing nuclear morphology by depletion of structural proteins, our results reveal that cell cycle regulators and structural proteins can significantly interfere with each other's prima facie functions. This study introduces a high-throughput method to simultaneously measure the cell cycle and phenotypes at single-cell resolution, which reveals a complex functional interplay between the cell cycle and cell phenotypes.

The LINC-anchored actin cap connects the extracellular milieu to the nucleus for ultrafast mechanotransduction

Cells continuously sense and respond to external mechanical forces through their cytoskeleton. Here we show that only a small subset of actin fibers, those forming the perinuclear actin cap that wraps around the nucleus, form in response to low physiological mechanical stresses in adherent fibroblasts. While conventional basal stress fibers form only past a threshold shear stress of 0.5 dyn/cm², actin-cap fibers are formed at shear stresses 50 times lower and orders-of-magnitude faster than biochemical stimulation. This fast differential response is uniquely mediated by focal adhesion protein zyxin at low shear stress and actomyosin fibers of the actin cap. We identify additional roles for lamin A/C of the nuclear lamina and linkers of nucleus to cytoskeleton (LINC) molecules nesprin2giant and nesprin3, which anchor actin cap fibers to the nucleus. These results suggest an interconnected physical pathway for mechanotransduction, from the extracellular milieu to the nucleus.

Emerging role for nuclear rotation and orientation in cell migration

Nucleus movement, positioning, and orientation is precisely specified and actively regulated within cells, and it plays a critical role in many cellular and developmental processes. Mutation of proteins that regulate the nucleus anchoring and movement lead to diverse pathologies, laminopathies in particular, suggesting that the nucleus correct positioning and movement is essential for proper cellular function. In motile cells that polarize toward the direction of migration, the nucleus undergoes controlled rotation promoting the alignment of the nucleus with the axis of migration. Such spatial organization of the cell appears to be optimal for the cell migration. Nuclear reorientation requires the cytoskeleton to be anchored to the nuclear envelope, which exerts pulling or pushing torque on the nucleus. Here we discuss the possible molecular mechanisms regulating the nuclear rotation and reorientation and the significance of this type of nuclear movement for cell migration.

The distinct roles of the nucleus and nucleus-cytoskeleton connections in three-dimensional cell migration

Cells often migrate in vivo in an extracellular matrix that is intrinsically three-dimensional (3D) and the role of actin filament architecture in 3D cell migration is less well understood. Here we show that, while recently identified linkers of nucleoskeleton to cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes play a minimal role in conventional 2D migration, they play a critical role in regulating the organization of a subset of actin filament bundles - the perinuclear actin cap - connected to the nucleus through Nesprin2giant and Nesprin3 in cells in 3D collagen I matrix. Actin cap fibers prolong the nucleus and mediate the formation of pseudopodial protrusions, which drive matrix traction and 3D cell migration. Disruption of LINC complexes disorganizes the actin cap, which impairs 3D cell migration. A simple mechanical model explains why LINC complexes and the perinuclear actin cap are essential in 3D migration by providing mechanical support to the formation of pseudopodial protrusions.