Swetlana Ghosh

AFM atomic force microscopy Col/Col-I collagen/collagen type I ECM extracellular matrix MMP9 RGE MMP9 mutant with RGD → RGE substitution MMP9Δcat catalytically inactive MMP9, E402A mutant MMP9Δβ1 MMP9 mutant lacking 17 aa integrin-binding motif in PEX4 PA gel polyacrylamide gel PLA proximity ligation assay shCTL scrambled shRNA Control shKD1/shKD2 MMP9 knockdown cell lines, two independent shRNAs Introduction The extracellular matrix (ECM) constitutes the acellular component of all tissues...

In addition to proteins such as collagen (Col) and fibronectin, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is enriched with bulky proteoglycan molecules such as hyaluronic acid (HA). However, how ECM proteins and proteoglycans collectively regulate cellular processes has not been adequately explored.

Abstract Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) which are susceptible to DNA damage depend on a robust and highly efficient DNA damage response (DDR) mechanism for their survival. However, the implications of physical force-mediated DNA damage on ESC fate remains unclear. We show that stiffness-dependent spreading of mouse ESCs (mESCs) induces DNA damage through nuclear compression, with DNA damage causing differentiation through early induction of Lamin A/C expression.