Essmann, Clara L;
Elmi, Muna;
Rekatsinas, Christoforos;
Chrysochoidis, Nikolaos;
Shaw, Michael;
Pawar, Vijay;
Srinivasan, Mandayam A;
(2024)
The influence of internal pressure and neuromuscular agents on C. elegans biomechanics: an empirical and multi-compartmental in silico modelling study.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
, 12
, Article 1335788. 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1335788.
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Abstract
The function of a specific tissue and its biomechanics are interdependent, with pathologies or ageing often being intertwined with structural decline. The biomechanics of Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism widely used in pharmacological and ageing research, has been established as biomarker for healthy ageing. However, the properties of the constituent tissues, and their contribution to the overall mechanical characteristics of the organism, remain relatively unknown. In this study we investigated the biomechanics of healthy C. elegans cuticle, muscle tissue, and pseudocoelom using a combination of indentation experiments and in silico modelling. We performed stiffness measurements using an atomic force microscope. To approximate the nematode’s cylindrical body we used a novel three-compartment nonlinear finite element model, enabling us to analyse of how changes in the elasticity of individual compartments affect the bulk stiffness. We then fine-tuned the parameters of the model to match the simulation force-indentation output to the experimental data. To test the finite element model, we modified distinct compartments experimentally. Our in silico results, in agreement with previous studies, suggest that hyperosmotic shock reduces stiffness by decreasing the internal pressure. Unexpectedly, treatment with the neuromuscular agent aldicarb, traditionally associated with muscle contraction, reduced stiffness by decreasing the internal pressure. Furthermore, our finite element model can offer insights into how drugs, mutations, or processes such as ageing target individual tissues.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The influence of internal pressure and neuromuscular agents on C. elegans biomechanics: an empirical and multi-compartmental in silico modelling study |
| Location: | Switzerland |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1335788 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1335788 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2024 Essmann, Elmi, Rekatsinas, Chrysochoidis, Shaw, Pawar, Srinivasan and Vavourakis. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
| Keywords: | Caenorhabditis elegans, finite element method, biomechanics, atomic force microscopy, aldicarb, osmotic shock, optogenetics |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Computer Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Med Phys and Biomedical Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10190142 |
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