Mechanics of constriction during cell division: a variational approach

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 8; p. e69750
• Main Authors: Almendro-Vedia, Victor G, Monroy, Francisco, Cao, Francisco J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 21.08.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bending modulus; Biology; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cell Division; Cell Shape; Cell Size; Cells - cytology; Constrictions; Deformation mechanisms; E coli; Energy; Energy Metabolism; Escherichia coli; Mathematical analysis; Models, Theoretical; Normal Distribution; Physics; Reproducibility of Results; Stability; Stress, Mechanical; Symmetry; Trends; Vesicles
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069750

During symmetric division cells undergo large constriction deformations at a stable midcell site. Using a variational approach, we investigate the mechanical route for symmetric constriction by computing the bending energy of deformed vesicles with rotational symmetry. Forces required for constriction are explicitly computed at constant area and constant volume, and their values are found to be determined by cell size and bending modulus. For cell-sized vesicles, considering typical bending modulus of [Formula: see text], we calculate constriction forces in the range [Formula: see text]. The instability of symmetrical constriction is shown and quantified with a characteristic coefficient of the order of [Formula: see text], thus evidencing that cells need a robust mechanism to stabilize constriction at midcell.