Journal article
The cytoplasm of living cells can sustain transient and steady intracellular pressure gradients
eLife, v 14, 105523
23 Mar 2026
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Understanding the physical basis of cellular shape change in response to both internal and external mechanical stresses requires characterisation of cytoplasmic rheology. At subsecond time-scales and micron length-scales, cells behave as fluid-filled sponges in which shape changes necessitate intracellular fluid redistribution. However, whether these cytoplasmic poroelastic properties play an important role in cellular mechanical response over length- and time-scales relevant to cell physiology remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether and how a localised deformation of the cell surface gives rise to transient intracellular flows spanning several microns and lasting seconds. Next, we showed that pressure gradients induced in the cytoplasm can be sustained over several minutes. We found that stable pressure gradients can arise from the combination of cortical tension, cytoplasmic poroelasticity, and water flows across the membrane. Overall our data indicate that intracellular cytosolic flows and pressure gradients may play a much greater role than currently appreciated, acting over time- and length-scales relevant to mechanotransduction and cell migration, signifying that poroelastic properties need to be accounted for in models of the cell.
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Details
- Title
- The cytoplasm of living cells can sustain transient and steady intracellular pressure gradients
- Creators
- Majid Malboubi - Univ Birmingham, Dept Mech Engn, Birmingham, EnglandMohammad Hadi Esteki - University College LondonMalti B. Vaghela - UCL, London Ctr Nanotechnol, London, EnglandLulu I Tsai Korsak - Drexel University, BiologyRyan J. Petrie - Drexel University, BiologyEmad Moeendarbary - University College LondonGuillaume Charras - University College London
- Publication Details
- eLife, v 14, 105523
- Publisher
- eLIFE SCIENCES PUBL LTD
- Number of pages
- 21
- Grant note
- URF / Royal Society; Royal Society UK 10.35802/092825 / Wellcome Trust
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001720868500001
- Other Identifier
- 991022170437704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biology