The nucleus acts as a ruler tailoring cell responses to spatial constraints

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aba2894
• Publication Date: 2020-11-03T19:11:17Z
• Authors: A. J. Lomakin; C. J. Cattin; D. Cuvelier; Z. Alraies; M. Molina; G. P. F. Nader; N. Srivastava; P. J. Sáez; J. M. Garcia-Arcos; I. Y. Zhitnyak; A. Bhargava; M. K. Driscoll; E. S. Welf; R. Fiolka; R. J. Petrie; N. S. De Silva; J. M. González-Gr...; N. Manel; A. M. Lennon-Duménil; D. J. Müller; M. Piel
• Keywords: Mechanotransduction; Contractility

The nucleus makes the rules Single cells continuously experience and react to mechanical challenges in three-dimensional tissues. Spatial constraints dense tissues, physical activity, injury all impose changes cell shape. How can measure shape deformations ensure correct tissue development homeostasis remains largely unknown (see Perspective by Shen Niethammer). Working independently, Venturini et al. Lomakin now show that act as an intracellular ruler cellular variations. nuclear envelope provides a gauge of deformation activates mechanotransduction pathway controls actomyosin contractility migration plasticity. thereby allows adapt their behavior local microenvironment. Science , this issue p. eaba2644 eaba2894 ; see also 295