CDB Seminar - Sara Wickström, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine

Zoom link: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/95873976184

Abstract: The structure of tissues is tightly linked to their function. During formation of functional organs, large-scale changes in tissue elongation, stretching, compression, folding/buckling, and budding impact the shape, position, packing, and contractility state of cells. Conversely, changes in single cell contractility, shape and position locally alter tissue organization and mechanics. Thus, forces function as important ques that are transmitted to the nucleus to coordinate gene expression programs to control cell states. On the other hand, excessive mechanical stresses have the potential to damage cells and tissues. In my presentation I will discuss our recent research on how cells sense mechanical forces and how these mechanosignals are integrated with biochemical inputs to alter cell states in health and disease.

Suggested references:

1.    Routila J, Huusko T, Pellinen T, Hagström J, Kedei N, Ventelä S, Mäkitie A, Ivaska J, and Wickström SA (2024). Multiparameter imaging reveals clinically relevant cancer cell – stroma interaction dynamics in head and neck cancer. Cell 2024 Oct 22:S0092-8674(24)01146-2. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.09.046.

2.    Villeneuve C, Hashmi A, Ylivinkka I, Lawson-Keister E, Miroshnikova YA, Pérez-González C, Myllymäki SM, Bertillot F, Yadav B, Zhang T, Matic Vignjevic D, Mikkola ML, Manning ML, and Wickström SA. Mechanical forces across compartments coordinate cell shape and fate transitions to generate tissue architecture. Nat Cell Biol 2024 26(2):207-218.

3.    Nava MM, Miroshnikova YA, Biggs LC, Whitefield DB, Metge F, Boucas J, Vihinen H, Jokitalo E, Li X, García Arcos JM, Hoffmann B, Merkel R, Niessen CM, Dahl KN, Wickström SA. (2020) Heterochromatin-driven nuclear softening protects the genome against mechanical stress-induced damage Cell 181, 800-817

4.    Miroshnikova YA, Le, HQ, Schneider D, Thalheim T, Rübsam M, Bremicker N, Polleux J, Höppner N, Tarantola M, Wang I, Balland M, Niessen CM, Galle J, Wickström SA (2018) Adhesion forces and cortical tension couple cell proliferation and differentiation to drive epidermal stratification. Nat Cell Biol 20:69-80.

Host: Roberto Mayor