a-typical-workflow-to-simulate-cytoskeletal-systems

A Typical Workflow to Simulate Cytoskeletal Systems

Many cytoskeletal systems are now sufficiently well known to permit their precise quantitative modeling. Microtubule and actin filaments are well ...

Cambridge University

Many species have cuticular striations that play a range of roles, from pollinator attraction to surface wettability. In Hibiscus trionum, the striations span multiple cells at the base of the petal to form a pattern that produces a type of iridescence. It is postulated, using theoretical models, that the pattern of striations could result from mechanical instabilities. By combining the application of mechanical stress with high-resolution imaging, we demonstrate that the cuticle buckles to create a striated pattern. Through mechanical modeling and cryo-SEM fractures, we show that the cuticle behaves like a bilayer system with a stiff film on a compliant substrate. The pattern of buckling aligns with the direction of the stress to create a larger-scale pattern. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the formation of tissue-wide patterns in living organisms.

Carlos A. Lugo

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JoVE Journal Publications

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