“Looping In” Mechanics: Mechanobiologic Regulation of the Nucleus and the Epigenome
Author(s) -
Dai Eric N.,
Heo SuJin,
Mauck Robert L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.202000030
Subject(s) - epigenome , chromatin , nucleus , neuroscience , focus (optics) , biology , computer science , nanotechnology , materials science , physics , dna methylation , genetics , dna , gene expression , gene , optics
Abstract Cells respond to physical cues in their microenvironment. These cues result in changes in cell behavior, some of which are transient, and others of which are permanent. Understanding and leveraging permanent alteration of cell behavior induced by mechanical cues, or “mechanical memories,” is an important aim in cell and tissue engineering. Herein, this paper reviews the existing literature outlining how cells may store memories of biophysical cues with a specific focus on the nucleus, the storehouse of information in eukaryotic cells. In particular, this review details mechanically driven adaptations in nuclear structure and genome organization and outlines potential mechanisms by which mechanical memories may be encoded within the structure and organization of the nucleus and chromatin.