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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Engineering Fret Biosensors For Microrna Presence/Absence Analysis, Nicholas E. Larkey, Sean M. Burrows Feb 2017

Engineering Fret Biosensors For Microrna Presence/Absence Analysis, Nicholas E. Larkey, Sean M. Burrows

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

No abstract provided.


Differences In The Mechanism Of Collagen Lattice Contraction By Myofibroblasts And Smooth Muscle Cells, J. C. Dallon, H P. Ehrlich Jan 2010

Differences In The Mechanism Of Collagen Lattice Contraction By Myofibroblasts And Smooth Muscle Cells, J. C. Dallon, H P. Ehrlich

Faculty Publications

Both rat derived vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and human myofibroblasts contain $\alpha$ smooth muscle actin (SMA), but they utilize different mechanisms to contract populated collagen lattices (PCLs). The difference is in how the cells generate the force that contracts the lattices. Human dermal fibroblasts transform into myofibroblasts, expressing $\alpha$-SMA within stress fibers, when cultured in lattices that remain attached to the surface of a tissue culture dish. When attached lattices are populated with rat derived vascular SMC, the cells retain their vascular SMC phenotype. Comparing the contraction of attached PCLs when they are released from the culture dish on …


Using A Mathematical Model Of Cadherin-Based Adhesion To Understand The Function Of The Actin Cytoskeleton, J. C. Dallon, Elijah Newren, Marc Hansen Jan 2009

Using A Mathematical Model Of Cadherin-Based Adhesion To Understand The Function Of The Actin Cytoskeleton, J. C. Dallon, Elijah Newren, Marc Hansen

Faculty Publications

The actin cytoskeleton plays a role in cell-cell adhesion but its specific function is not clear. Actin might anchor cadherins or drive membrane protrusions in order to facilitate cell-cell adhesion. Using a mathematical model of the forces involved in cadherin-based adhesion we investigate its possible functions. The immersed boundary method is used to model the cell membrane and cortex with cadherin binding forces added as linear springs. The simulations indicate that cells in suspension can develop normal cell-cell contacts without actin-based cadherin anchoring or membrane protrusions. The cadherins can be fixed in the membrane or free to move and the …