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SUMMARY:The mechanical control of neuronal development - Dr Kristian Franz
 e\, University of Cambridge (PDN)
DTSTART:20151125T103000Z
DTEND:20151125T113000Z
UID:TALK62640@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jerome Charmet
DESCRIPTION:During the development of the nervous system\, neurons migrate
  and grow over large distances. During these processes\, they are exposed 
 to a multitude of signals determining their growth velocities and directio
 n. Currently\, our understanding of neuronal development is\, in large par
 t\, based on studies of biochemical signaling. Despite the fact that force
 s are involved in any kind of cell motion1-3\, mechanical aspects have so 
 far rarely been considered. We used compliant cell culture substrates\, tr
 action force microscopy and calcium imaging to investigate how Xenopus neu
 rons respond to their mechanical environment. Axonal growth velocities\, d
 irectionality\, fasciculation\, and maturation all significantly depended 
 on substrate stiffness.  Moreover\, when grown on substrates incorporating
  linear stiffness gradients\, axon bundles turned towards soft substrates.
  In vivo atomic force microscopy measurements revealed stiffness gradients
  in developing brain tissue\, which axons followed as well towards soft. I
 nterfering with brain stiffness and mechanosensitive ion channels in vivo 
 both led to similar aberrant neuronal growth patterns with reduced fascicu
 lation and pathfinding errors\, strongly suggesting that neuronal growth i
 s not only controlled by chemical signals – as it is currently assumed 
 – but also by the tissue’s local mechanical properties. \n\nBiography:
 \nKristian Franze qualified as a veterinarian at the University of Leipzig
  in Germany\, where he also obtained an advanced degree and PhD in physics
  in 2007. He then started his postdoc at the Cavendish Laboratory at the U
 niversity of Cambridge. Since 2011\, he is a lecturer at the Department of
  Physiology\, Development and Neuroscience in Cambridge\, holds an MRC Car
 eer Development Award\, and is a Fellow at St. John’s College. His resea
 rch focuses on how cellular forces and the mechanical interaction of cells
  with their environment control the development\, functioning\, and disord
 ers of the nervous system.\n\nReferences\n1	Hardie\, R.C.\, and Franze\, K
 . (2012). Photomechanical responses in Drosophila photoreceptors. Science 
 338\, 260-263.\n2	Pagliara\, S.\, Franze\, K.\, Mcclain\, C.R.\, Wylde\, G
 .W.\, Fisher\, C.L.\, Franklin\, R.J.\, Kabla\, A.J.\, Keyser\, U.F.\, and
  Chalut\, K.J. (2014). Auxetic nuclei in embryonic stem cells exiting plur
 ipotency. Nat Mater 13\, 638-644.\n3	Betz\, T.\, Koch\, D.\, Lu\, Y.B.\, F
 ranze\, K.\, and Kas\, J.A. (2011). Growth cones as soft and weak force ge
 nerators. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108\, 13420-13425.
LOCATION:Department of Chemistry\, Cambridge\, Unilever lecture theatre
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