Open AccessEQUILIBRIUM MEASUREMENTS OF EMBRYONIC CHICK CELL ADHESIVENESS, I. SHAPE EQUILIBRIUM IN CENTRIFUGAL FIELDS
Author(s) -
Helen M. Phillips,
Malcolm S. Steinberg
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.64.1.121
Subject(s) - adhesive , embryonic stem cell , drop (telecommunication) , biophysics , sorting , materials science , mechanics , biological system , chemistry , nanotechnology , biology , physics , computer science , biochemistry , engineering , mechanical engineering , layer (electronics) , gene , programming language
Sorting-out and other morphogenetic rearrangements of embryonic cells have been attributed to the spontaneous movements of mutually adhesive cells toward configurations of minimal adhesive free energy. Testing this hypothesis requires measuring those particular adhesive properties that would determine such equilibrium configurations. We have devised a modification of the sessile drop method for making the required measurements. This communication is a preliminary report of experiments demonstrating that intercellular adhesiveness is reflected in the equilibrium shapes of centrifuged cell aggregates.