Molecular Basis of Cell Adhesion Mechanics

Adhesive interactions between cells in multicellular organisms play a significant role in the development and maintenance of compact tissue structures. Cell adhesion depends on specialized adhesion molecules on the cell surfaces. Recent developments studying physical and chemical properties of the adhesion molecules have provided useful information in understanding the biological functions of the molecules. This thesis reports a combined theoretical and experimental study of adhesion molecules. A theoretical model is developed to study the strength of adhesion between two planar surfaces linked via multiple adhesion bonds in parallel subject to dynamic forces. Correlations between the dynamic strength and measurable kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the molecular bond are predicted based on the model. The model is further extended to a sphere-on-plane geometry commonly used in measurements. Dynamic force spectroscopy using atomic force microscopy is implemented to measure one of the model parameter, the intrinsic off-rate, of the adhesive bonds between various cadherin constructs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Li, Fang

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nancy Sottos

• Biophysics, General

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3301181

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87747