TY - JOUR SP - 237 VL - 17 IS - 3 N1 - This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher?s terms and conditions. UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-017-0014-0 SN - 1476-4660 A1 - von Erlach, TC A1 - Bertazzo, S A1 - Wozniak, MA A1 - Horejs, C-M A1 - Maynard, SA A1 - Attwood, S A1 - Robinson, BK A1 - Autefage, H A1 - Kallepitis, C A1 - Hernandez, ADR A1 - Chen, CS A1 - Goldoni, S A1 - Stevens, MM JF - Nature Materials AV - public Y1 - 2018/02/12/ EP - 242 TI - Cell-geometry-dependent changes in plasma membrane order direct stem cell signalling and fate PB - NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP N2 - Cell size and shape affect cellular processes such as cell survival, growth and differentiation1,2,3,4, thus establishing cell geometry as a fundamental regulator of cell physiology. The contributions of the cytoskeleton, specifically actomyosin tension, to these effects have been described, but the exact biophysical mechanisms that translate changes in cell geometry to changes in cell behaviour remain mostly unresolved. Using a variety of innovative materials techniques, we demonstrate that the nanostructure and lipid assembly within the cell plasma membrane are regulated by cell geometry in a ligand-independent manner. These biophysical changes trigger signalling events involving the serine/threonine kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) that direct cell-geometry-dependent mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Our study defines a central regulatory role by plasma membrane ordered lipid raft microdomains in modulating stem cell differentiation with potential translational applications. ID - discovery10045875 KW - Science & Technology KW - Physical Sciences KW - Technology KW - Chemistry KW - Physical KW - Materials Science KW - Multidisciplinary KW - Physics KW - Applied KW - Physics KW - Condensed Matter KW - Chemistry KW - Materials Science KW - Physics KW - LIPID RAFTS KW - CAVEOLAE KW - MICROTUBULES KW - MICRODOMAINS KW - GROWTH KW - SWITCH ER -