Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways.
We derive and simulate a mathematical model for mechanotransduction related to the Rho GTPase signalling pathway. The model addresses the bidirectional coupling between signalling processes and cell mechanics. A numerical method based on bulk-surface finite elements is proposed for the approximation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-07-01
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| Series: | PLoS Computational Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013305 |
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| author | Sofie Verhees Chandrasekhar Venkataraman Mariya Ptashnyk |
| author_facet | Sofie Verhees Chandrasekhar Venkataraman Mariya Ptashnyk |
| author_sort | Sofie Verhees |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We derive and simulate a mathematical model for mechanotransduction related to the Rho GTPase signalling pathway. The model addresses the bidirectional coupling between signalling processes and cell mechanics. A numerical method based on bulk-surface finite elements is proposed for the approximation of the coupled system of nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations, defined inside the cell and on the cell membrane, and the equations of elasticity. Our simulation results illustrate novel emergent features such as the strong dependence of the dynamics on cell shape, a threshold-like response to changes in substrate stiffness, and the fact that coupling mechanics and signalling can lead to the robustness of cell deformation to larger changes in substrate stiffness, ensuring mechanical homeostasis in agreement with experiments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ffffedabd1a2409f8a4f84f614355443 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1553-734X 1553-7358 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Computational Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ffffedabd1a2409f8a4f84f6143554432025-08-20T03:59:35ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582025-07-01217e101330510.1371/journal.pcbi.1013305Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways.Sofie VerheesChandrasekhar VenkataramanMariya PtashnykWe derive and simulate a mathematical model for mechanotransduction related to the Rho GTPase signalling pathway. The model addresses the bidirectional coupling between signalling processes and cell mechanics. A numerical method based on bulk-surface finite elements is proposed for the approximation of the coupled system of nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations, defined inside the cell and on the cell membrane, and the equations of elasticity. Our simulation results illustrate novel emergent features such as the strong dependence of the dynamics on cell shape, a threshold-like response to changes in substrate stiffness, and the fact that coupling mechanics and signalling can lead to the robustness of cell deformation to larger changes in substrate stiffness, ensuring mechanical homeostasis in agreement with experiments.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013305 |
| spellingShingle | Sofie Verhees Chandrasekhar Venkataraman Mariya Ptashnyk Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways. PLoS Computational Biology |
| title | Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways. |
| title_full | Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways. |
| title_fullStr | Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways. |
| title_short | Mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via RhoA signalling pathways. |
| title_sort | mathematical modelling of mechanotransduction via rhoa signalling pathways |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013305 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sofieverhees mathematicalmodellingofmechanotransductionviarhoasignallingpathways AT chandrasekharvenkataraman mathematicalmodellingofmechanotransductionviarhoasignallingpathways AT mariyaptashnyk mathematicalmodellingofmechanotransductionviarhoasignallingpathways |