Figure 7: Model for the mechanical orchestration between cell and nuclear shape changes.
From: Spatial coordination between cell and nuclear shape within micropatterned endothelial cells
As the cell elongates, the nucleus initially rounded and randomly oriented becomes significantly deformed and oriented with respect to the long-cell axis direction. Cellular elongation is associated with the formation of parallel actin bundles on either sides of the nucleus and the anisotropy of FAs. During cell elongation, tension in actin filaments increases and results in a high level of compressive forces acting laterally on both sides of the nucleus. The magnitude of compressive forces is denoted by the thickness of the black arrows. Changes in nuclear shape induce a loss of nuclear volume, which causes conformational changes in chromatin structure that significantly affect the cell proliferation.
