Loss of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Leads to Periodic Shape Oscillations in Fibroblasts

Abstract

We report the phenomenon of periodic shape oscillations occurring in 3T3 fibroblasts merely as a consequence of a loss of cell-substrate adhesion. The oscillatory behavior can last many hours at a constant frequency, and can be switched off and on using chemical agents. This robustness allows for the extraction of quantitative data using single cells. We demonstrate that the frequency of oscillations increases with increasing actomyosin contractility. Both the Myosin Light Chain Kinase as well as the Rho Kinase pathways are shown to operate during this process. Further, we reveal significant similarities between the oscillatory dynamics and the commonly observed phenomenon of blebbing. We show that both these processes ceases when extracellular calcium is depleted or when stretch activated calcium channels are blocked. This, along with the fact that these dynamical processes require actomyosin contactility points towards strong similarities in the respective mechanisms. Finally, we speculate on a possible mechanism for the observed dynamical phenomena.