The Constitutive Equation for Membrane Tether Extraction

Cell cytoskeleton and tether extraction.

We perform a detailed investigation of the force × deformation curve in tether extraction from 3T3 cells by optical tweezers. Contrary to conventional wisdom about tethers extracted from cells, we find that actin filaments are present within them, so that a revised theory of tether pulling from cells is called for. We also measure steady and maximum tether force values significantly higher than...

Development of constitutive equation of filled silicone architectured membrane

Architectured membranes can be developed in order to mimic living tissues. The main point is to generate anisotropic membranes that can endure large deformations. In this way, crenellated membranes are elaborated with a filled silicone rubber. The aim of this work is to develop a constitutive equation which describes the mechanical behavior of such architectured materials. Membranes with differ...

Membrane tether formation from blebbing cells.

Membrane tension has been proposed to be important in regulating cell functions such as endocytosis and cell motility. The apparent membrane tension has been calculated from tether forces measured with laser tweezers. Both membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion and membrane tension contribute to the tether force. Separation of the plasma membrane from the cytoskeleton occurs in membrane blebs, which co...

Constitutive Equation Gap

First-principles constitutive equation for suspension rheology.

Using mode-coupling theory, we derive a constitutive equation for the nonlinear rheology of dense colloidal suspensions under arbitrary time-dependent homogeneous flow. Generalizing previous results for simple shear, this allows the full tensorial structure of the theory to be identified. Macroscopic deformation measures, such as the Cauchy-Green tensors, thereby emerge. So does a direct relati...