Mechanical Transduction in Cells
Cells that line blood vessels are subject to mechanical forces due to
the blood flowing past them. It is known that such forces on the
outside of the cell can cause changes in the chemistry on the inside
of the cell. In some cases, such changes can ultimately lead to
atherosclerosis and blocked blood vessels. On the positive side,
similar changes in bone cells can lead to bone growth and
strengthening.
Several professors in our department are doing
experimental work on this phenomena. In particular,
Prof. Frangos' group
has experimental evidence that shearing forces
from fluid flow outside the membrane alters the fluidity
of the membrane, thereby causing changes in the fluctuations and
reaction rates of certain molecules (G-proteins) embedded on
the inside of the membrane. Computer models of
the molecules that lie in the cell membranes can help us understand
the mechanism by which these changes occur.
