Adaptive ordering and filament polymerization of cell cytoskeleton by tunable nanoarrays

Abstract

Matrix adaptation reconstructs the architecture of cell, and has important implication in proper biological functioning. However, how the network of cytoskeleton filament undergoes reconstruction, reordering, and surface adaptation, requires a systematic investigation. Here, we show that surface sensing and adaptation occur correspondingly with related reorganization of cytoskeleton filaments (actin, tubulin, and vimentin). The microstructure of filament network is built by adaptive change of chemical polymerization on cytoskeleton filaments. The transition of cellular morphology, from spheroidal architecture on nanoarray to extending structure with stress fibers on flat surface, involves spatial reorganization and polymerization modulation of filaments. The dimension of filaments (diameter, orientation, and density) are changed accordingly to spatiotemporal distribution of cytoskeleton network. In addition, our findings elucidate how cell can tune their architecture at nanoscale by matrix adaptation, and provide a novel information on interplay between cytoskeleton and pathophysiology.