Pre-strains and buckling in mechanosensitivity of contractile cells and focal adhesions: A tensegrity model

We demonstrate that several key aspects of the contractile activity of a cell interacting with the substrate can be captured by means of a non linear elastic tensegrity mechanical system made of a tensile element in parallel with a buckling-prone component, and exchanging forces with the surroundings through an extracellular matrix-focal adhesion complex. Mechanosensitivity of the focal adhesion plaque is triggered by pre-strain -driven buckling of the system induced either by pre-contraction or pre-polymerization of the constituents. The impact of pre-polymerization on the mechanical force and the implications of using linear and nonlinear elasticity for the focal adhesion plaque are assessed.

Automated summary

We demonstrate that the contractile activity of a cell interacting with the substrate can be captured by a non-linear elastic mechanical system, consisting of a tensile element and a buckling-prone component, exchanging forces with the surroundings through an extracellular matrix-focal adhesion complex. The mechanical sensitivity of the focal adhesion plaque is triggered by pre-strain-driven buckling, induced by pre-contraction or pre-polymerization.