How do cells sense mechanical cues? |
Cells react to their mechanical environment by changing cell division, expansion, and differentiation programmes, but how they sense and trigger such responses are just starting to be unravelled.
We are developing single-cell & live-imaging platforms to examine cellular behaviours over time and responses to chemical and/or physical stimuli. A series of bespoke microfluidics devices is made to hold cells and apply chemical or mechanical treatments with high spatio-temporal precision. In parallel, cell cultures that are given specific cell-type identities are created employing synthetic biology technology. These two powerful resources will allow us to quantitatively visualise dynamic cellular responses to mechanical cues. It will also enable us to dissect key sensing and response mechanisms, in conjunction with mutant backgrounds, cell biological inhibitors and other chemical agents. |
Collaborator: Teuta Pilizota (Biology, University of Edinburgh) |
What molecular factors mediate the structural adaptation?
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Collaborator: Stephen Fry (Biology, University of Edinburgh) Justin Goodrich (Biology, University of Edinburgh) |
From the sensing of the mechanical stimuli to ultimate changes in structural properties of the stem, we will connect the dots of key regulatory factors underlying the whole process, taking two approaches: candidate-based and a priori.
Structural strength of plant tissues are largely determined by the cell wall materials. Therefore, we are identifying changes in the cell wall constituents under distinct mechanical treatments. At the heart of self-stabilisation of shoot structure in many plant species is mechano-dependent activation of the stem cell population called cambium, which gives rise to the particularly stiff and supportive cells - wood. Because of the economical importance of wood, there are known molecular regulators of wood formation, and these factors are directly tested for their mechano-sensitivity. |
How well do plants maintain their structural integrity? |
Even though qualitatively speaking it is clear that plants auto-adjust its structural engineering, how well - quantitatively speaking - they maintain stability in face of combinations of mechanical challenges remains elusive.
In order to reveal how robust the adaptive engineering of the plant shoot structure is, we are developing a dynamic digital shoot of the model plant Arabidopsis, which adjust its own stem structure as it grows, develops, and faces mechanical challenges. The structural stability will be caclurated using a Finite Element Method-based engineering model, which is linked to a model of the plant shoot that can switch developmental programmes. Real geometry (shapes) and material properties of the tissue are being incorporated to create a realistic digital plant structure. |
Collaborators: Arezki Boudaoud (RDP, ENS de Lyon, France) Tim Stratford (Engineering, University of Edinburgh) Taku Komura (Informatics, University of Edinburgh) |
Flight of the dandelion |
Nature invented numerous strategies to fly. Unlike animals that carry out muscle-based flight, plants (especially their fruits and seeds) travel in air with clever structural designs that increase air drag. A great example is the dandelion, for which a bundle of intricate hairs called pappus carry the seed over miles of distance with only a little help from wind. As familiar as the flight of dandelion is, we actually didn't know how it works.
We have characterising the structural engineering and fluid dynamics of the diaspore (the seed and the rest of the dispersal unit), in order to reveal the engineering underpinning of the flying seed. What we found was a previously unobserved ring vortex (wind wheel), which is separated but stays at a constant distance right downstream of the pappus. It creates a domain of low pressure and likely act to suck the seed upwards, helping to keep it aloft. For more information about this project, please go to the project website: www.ed.ac.uk/dandelion. Collaborators: Ignazio Maria Viola (Engineering, University of Edinburgh) Enrico Mastropaolo (Engineering, University of Edinburgh) Arezki Boudaoud (RDP, ENS de Lyon/Ecole Polytechnique Paris, France) Angela Busse (Engineering, University of Glasgow) Hossein Zare-Behtash (Engineering, University of Glasgow) Mike Blatt (Biological Sciences, University of Glasgow) |
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