Study of the mechanisms supporting cellular mechanical memory

Overview & Synopsis

Not unlike us, cells have the ability to sense and be affected by rigidity variations in their immediate environment. For instance, we move more slowly on a soft terrain, such as mud, than on a more rigid surface like concrete. Quite similarly, cells migrate much more slowly on a soft environment than on a stiff one. This phenomenon was described as a “mechanical memory”. We are attempting to describe the mechanisms by which cells are able to setup a mechanical memory. As of yet, we have shown that mechanical memory in cells depends on a protein which affects the DNAs architecture. All cells possess the same DNA sequence, but its shape is changed to allow cells to expressed different genes and acquire different characteristics. We identified that KDM7a, a protein involved in these changes in DNA structure is necessary for cells to store information on their mechanical history.