The nucleus as a chief cellular organizer and active defender in response to mechanical stimulation

Abstract

In addition to the mechanical forces of the external environment, the individual plant cell is also subject to multiple subde biophysical forces that arise from neighboring cell growth and division within the tissue. To maintain a normal cell shape and division pattern, the plant cell is proposed to have the ability to sense and respond to repetitive subde mechanical stimulations via nuclear-directed migration. It has been demonstrated that the nucleus is alert and highly sensitive to repetitive mechanical stimulations. Furthermore, the cytoplasm reacts to local mechanical stimulation in a compartmentalized fashion. The nucleus therefore plays a role as a chief organizer and active defender in response to mechanical stimulation. This finding provides new insight on the role of mechanical stimulation in regulating cell division and the consequent spatial positioning and shape of cells inside tissues. The finding also revealed that it necessitates further study into the reason for cytoplasmic functional compartmentalization in response to simulation in the context of cell evolution. ©2008 Landes Bioscience.