We introduce a simple mechanical model for adherent cells that quantitatively relates cell shape, internal cell stresses and cell forces as generated by an anisotropic cytoskeleton. We perform ex-... Show moreWe introduce a simple mechanical model for adherent cells that quantitatively relates cell shape, internal cell stresses and cell forces as generated by an anisotropic cytoskeleton. We perform ex- periments on the shape and traction forces of different types of cells with anisotropic morphologies, cultured on microfabricated elastomeric pillar arrays. We demonstrate that, irrespectively of the cell type, the shape of the cell edge between focal adhesions is accurately described by elliptical arcs, whose eccentricity expresses the ratio between directed and isotropic stresses. Our work paves the way toward the reconstruction of cellular forces from geometrical data available via optical microscopy. Show less
Squartini, T.; Mol, J. de; Hollander, W.T.F. den; Garlaschelli, D. 2015
