scholarly journals A comparison of tarsal morphology and traction force in the two burying beetles Nicrophorus nepalensis and Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera, Silphidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesa Schnee ◽  
Benjamin Sampalla ◽  
Josef K Müller ◽  
Oliver Betz
Keyword(s):  
Rough Surfaces ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Interspecific Difference ◽  
Smooth Surfaces ◽  
Burying Beetle ◽  
Surface Polarity ◽  
Traction Forces ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Friction Performance ◽  
The Impact

Our aim was to compare friction and traction forces between two burying beetle species of the genus Nicrophorus exhibiting different attachment abilities during climbing. Specifically, the interaction of adhesive hairs and claws during attachment with respect to various surface properties was investigated by using a 2 × 3 experimental design. Traction force was measured for two different surface energies (hydrophilic vs hydrophobic) varying in roughness from smooth to micro-rough to rough. Nanotribometric tests on single legs were also performed. The external morphology of the attachment devices investigated by scanning electron microscopy suggested higher intra-specific (intersexual) than inter-specific differences. Whereas differences between the two species in traction force were high on smooth surfaces, no differences could be detected between males and females within each species. With claws intact, both species showed the highest forces on rough surfaces, although N. nepalensis with clipped claws performed best on a smooth surface. However, N. nepalensis beetles outperformed N. vespilloides, which showed no differences between smooth and rough surfaces with clipped claws. Both species demonstrated poor traction forces on micro-rough surfaces. Results concerning the impact of surface polarity were inconclusive, whereas roughness more strongly affected the attachment performance in both species. Nanotribometric analyses of the fore tarsi performed on micro-rough and rough surfaces revealed higher friction in the proximal (pull) direction compared with the distal (push) direction. In these experiments, we detected neither differences in friction performance between the two species, nor clear trends concerning the influence of surface polarity. We conclude that the investigated morphological traits are not critical for the observed interspecific difference in attachment ability on smooth surfaces. Furthermore, interspecific differences in performance are only clear on smooth surfaces and vanish on micro-rough and rough surfaces. Our results suggest that even subtle differences in the adhesion-mediating secretion in closely related species might result in qualitative performance shifts.

Effects of Surface Roughness on Rebound Strength in Particle-Wall Collisions in Air and Liquids

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Q. Nguyen ◽  
John C. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Qualitative Agreement ◽  
Rough Surfaces ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Stokes Number ◽  
Glass Beads ◽  
Smooth Surfaces ◽  
Sugar Water ◽  
Glass Plates ◽  
The Impact

Experiments to examine the effects of surface roughness on the strength of rebounds from particle-wall collisions, in liquids and in air, are presented. The target walls are glass plates and have three different values of surface roughness: less than 0.3 μm, 10.5 μm, and 40.1 μm. Particles are glass beads with diameters from 1.05mm to 2.35mm. The experiments are conducted in tap water, sugar-water, and in air. Pre-impact Stokes numbers in liquids are in the range 20–170. For impacts in air, no significant effect of the surface roughness on rebound velocity is observed. In liquids, rough surfaces yield stronger rebounds than smooth surfaces. For a given ratio of surface roughness/particle’s radius, the enhancement of the surface roughness on the rebound compared to the smooth one increases when the impact Stokes number decreases toward the “rebound threshold”. These observations are in qualitative agreement with suggestions in the literature.

scholarly journals Variation in traction forces during cell cycle progression

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoit Vianay ◽  
Fabrice Senger ◽  
Simon Alamos ◽  
Maya Anjur-Dietrich ◽  
Elizabeth Bearce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Traction Forces ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Cell Contractility ◽  
Dividing Cells ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Contractile Forces ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTissue morphogenesis results from the interplay between cell growth and mechanical forces. While the impact of forces on cell proliferation has been fairly well characterized, the inverse relationship is much less understood. Here we investigated how traction forces vary during cell cycle progression. Cell shape was constrained on micropatterned substrates in order to distinguish variations in cell contractility from cell size increase. We performed traction force measurements of asynchronously dividing cells expressing a cell-cycle reporter, to obtain measurements of contractile forces generated during cell division. We found that forces tend to increase as cells progress through G1, before reaching a plateau in S phase, and then decline during G2. This biphasic behaviour revealed a previously undocumented specific and opposite regulation of cell contractility during each cell cycle stage.

scholarly journals Dissipation of contractile forces: the missing piece in cell mechanics

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (14) ◽  
pp. 1825-1832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laetitia Kurzawa ◽  
Benoit Vianay ◽  
Fabrice Senger ◽  
Timothée Vignaud ◽  
Laurent Blanchoin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Mechanics ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Structural Rearrangements ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Traction Forces ◽  
Cell Traction Forces ◽  
Cell Traction ◽  
Contractile Forces ◽  
Fiber Contraction

Mechanical forces are key regulators of cell and tissue physiology. The basic molecular mechanism of fiber contraction by the sliding of actin filament upon myosin leading to conformational change has been known for decades. The regulation of force generation at the level of the cell, however, is still far from elucidated. Indeed, the magnitude of cell traction forces on the underlying extracellular matrix in culture is almost impossible to predict or experimentally control. The considerable variability in measurements of cell-traction forces indicates that they may not be the optimal readout to properly characterize cell contractile state and that a significant part of the contractile energy is not transferred to cell anchorage but instead is involved in actin network dynamics. Here we discuss the experimental, numerical, and biological parameters that may be responsible for the variability in traction force production. We argue that limiting these sources of variability and investigating the dissipation of mechanical work that occurs with structural rearrangements and the disengagement of force transmission is key for further understanding of cell mechanics.

Evaluating relationships among tree growth rate, shade tolerance, and browse tolerance following disturbance in an eastern deciduous forest

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2460-2469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Krueger ◽  
Chris J. Peterson ◽  
Alejandro Royo ◽  
Walter P. Carson
Keyword(s):  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
Shade Tolerance ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Eastern Deciduous Forest ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
The Impact

Interspecific differences in shade tolerance among woody species are considered a primary driving force underlying forest succession. However, variation in shade tolerance may be only one of many interspecific differences that cause species turnover. For example, tree species may differ in their sensitivity to herbivory. Nonetheless, existing conceptual models of forest dynamics rarely explicitly consider the impact of herbivores. We examined whether browsing by white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) alters the relationship between light availability and plant performance. We monitored growth and survival for seedlings of six woody species over 2 years within six windthrow gaps and the nearby intact forest in the presence and absence of deer. Browsing decreased seedling growth for all species except beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.). More importantly, browsing altered growth rankings among species. Increased light availability enhanced growth for three species when excluded from deer, but browsing obscured these relationships. Browsing also reduced survival for three species; however, survival rankings did not significantly differ between herbivory treatments. Our results indicated that browsing and light availability operated simultaneously to influence plant growth within these forests. Thus, existing models of forest dynamics may make inaccurate predictions of the timing and composition of species reaching the canopy, unless they can account for how plant performance varies as a result of a variety of environmental factors, including herbivory.

scholarly journals Transmission of growth cone traction force through apCAM–cytoskeletal linkages is regulated by Src family tyrosine kinase activity

2001 ◽  
Vol 155 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Suter ◽  
Paul Forscher
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Activity ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Traction Forces ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Neuronal Growth Cone

Tyrosine kinase activity is known to be important in neuronal growth cone guidance. However, underlying cellular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here, we report how Src family tyrosine kinase activity controls apCAM-mediated growth cone steering by regulating the transmission of traction forces through receptor–cytoskeletal linkages. Increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation were detected at sites where beads coated with apCAM ligands were physically restrained to induce growth cone steering, but not at unrestrained bead binding sites. Interestingly, the rate and level of phosphotyrosine buildup near restrained beads were decreased by the myosin inhibitor 2,3-butanedione-2-monoxime, suggesting that tension promotes tyrosine kinase activation. While not affecting retrograde F-actin flow rates, genistein and the Src family selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors PP1 and PP2 strongly reduced the growth cone's ability to apply traction forces through apCAM–cytoskeletal linkages, assessed using the restrained bead interaction assay. Furthermore, increased levels of an activated Src family kinase were detected at restrained bead sites during growth cone steering events. Our results suggest a mechanism by which growth cones select pathways by sampling both the molecular nature of the substrate and its ability to withstand the application of traction forces.

Study of Cellular Adhesion by Means of Micropillar Surface Topologies

2011 ◽  
Vol 409 ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Boccafoschi ◽  
Marco Rasponi ◽  
Cecilia Mosca ◽  
Erica Bocchi ◽  
Simone Vesentini
Keyword(s):  
Focal Adhesion ◽  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Focal Adhesions ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Cellular Adhesion ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Traction Forces ◽  
Adhesion Sites ◽  
Substrate Rigidity ◽  
Open Question

It is well-known that cellular behavior can be guided by chemical signals and physical interactions at the cell-substrate interface. The patterns that cells encounter in their natural environment include nanometer-to-micrometer-sized topographies comprising extracellular matrix, proteins, and adjacent cells. Whether cells transduce substrate rigidity at the microscopic scale (for example, sensing the rigidity between adhesion sites) or the nanoscopic scale remains an open question. Here we report that micromolded elastomeric micropost arrays can decouple substrate rigidity from adhesive and surface properties. Arrays of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microposts from microfabricated silicon masters have been fabricated. To control substrate rigidity they present the same post heights but different surface area and spacing between posts. The main advantage of micropost arrays over other surface modification solutions (i.e. hydrogels) is that measured subcellular traction forces could be attributed directly to focal adhesions. This would allow to map traction forces to individual focal adhesions and spatially quantify subcellular distributions of focal-adhesion area, traction force and focal-adhesion stress. Moreover, different adhesion intracellular pathways could be used by the cells to differentiate toward a proliferative or a contractile cellular phenotype, for instance. This particular application is advantageous for vascular tissue engineering applications, where mimicking as close as possible the vessels dynamics should be a step forward in this research field.

scholarly journals Traction force measurements on male Strepsiptera (Insecta) revealed higher forces on smooth compared with hairy substrates

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (18) ◽  
pp. jeb223784
Author(s):  
Hans Pohl ◽  
Elena V. Gorb ◽  
Stanislav N. Gorb
Keyword(s):  
Van Der Waals ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Capillary Forces ◽  
Van Der Waals Interactions ◽  
Smooth Surfaces ◽  
Mechanical Interlocking ◽  
Force Measurements ◽  
Caudal Direction ◽  
Primary Contribution

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to find out how strongly the parasitic insect Stylopsovinae, which has tarsi equipped with tenent hairs and lacking claws, attaches to different substrates. We investigated adhesion of male S. ovinae to the abdomen of its hymenopteran host (Andrena vaga), the hairier abdomen of a Bombus sp. and two artificial smooth reference surfaces with different degrees of hydrophilicity. In our experiments, the male S. ovinae developed significantly higher forces on smooth surfaces. However, the forces were significantly lower on all the hymenopteran surfaces used in the experiment. The absence of anisotropy in the force grip in cranial/caudal direction relative to the host might indirectly indicate that S. ovinae generate forces by adhesion rather than mechanical interlocking with the host hairs. The tolerance of the attachment system of S. ovinae to the substrate chemistry might be explained by the primary contribution of van der Waals interactions and not capillary forces to adhesion in S. ovinae.

scholarly journals Alpha-actinin binding kinetics modulate cellular dynamics and force generation

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (21) ◽  
pp. 6619-6624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen J. Ehrlicher ◽  
Ramaswamy Krishnan ◽  
Ming Guo ◽  
Cécile M. Bidan ◽  
David A. Weitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Traction Force ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
Cell Dynamics ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
Cross Linker ◽  
The Impact ◽  
In Cells

The actin cytoskeleton is a key element of cell structure and movement whose properties are determined by a host of accessory proteins. Actin cross-linking proteins create a connected network from individual actin filaments, and though the mechanical effects of cross-linker binding affinity on actin networks have been investigated in reconstituted systems, their impact on cellular forces is unknown. Here we show that the binding affinity of the actin cross-linker α-actinin 4 (ACTN4) in cells modulates cytoplasmic mobility, cellular movement, and traction forces. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we show that an ACTN4 mutation that causes human kidney disease roughly triples the wild-type binding affinity of ACTN4 to F-actin in cells, increasing the dissociation time from 29 ± 13 to 86 ± 29 s. This increased affinity creates a less dynamic cytoplasm, as demonstrated by reduced intracellular microsphere movement, and an approximate halving of cell speed. Surprisingly, these less motile cells generate larger forces. Using traction force microscopy, we show that increased binding affinity of ACTN4 increases the average contractile stress (from 1.8 ± 0.7 to 4.7 ± 0.5 kPa), and the average strain energy (0.4 ± 0.2 to 2.1 ± 0.4 pJ). We speculate that these changes may be explained by an increased solid-like nature of the cytoskeleton, where myosin activity is more partitioned into tension and less is dissipated through filament sliding. These findings demonstrate the impact of cross-linker point mutations on cell dynamics and forces, and suggest mechanisms by which such physical defects lead to human disease.

scholarly journals Normal contact and friction of rubber with model randomly rough surfaces

Soft Matter ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 871-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Yashima ◽  
V. Romero ◽  
E. Wandersman ◽  
C. Frétigny ◽  
M. K. Chaudhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rough Surfaces ◽  
Statistical Distribution ◽  
Smooth Surfaces ◽  
Normal Contact ◽  
Randomly Rough Surfaces ◽  
Friction Measurements

We report on normal contact and friction measurements of model multicontact interfaces formed between smooth surfaces and substrates textured with a statistical distribution of spherical micro-asperities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document