DONATE

Cellular and molecular mechanobiology

ABOUT

Tissues in our body can be extremely soft such as breast or brain, or very stiff such as bone. Cells in our body constantly interact mechanically with such tissues, exerting, transmitting, withstanding, and detecting forces. This mechanical interaction with the environment regulates how cells proliferate, differentiate, and move, and regulates development, tumorigenesis or wound healing. 

Our research aims at unraveling – and re-engineering – the molecular mechanisms by which cells detect and respond to mechanical stimuli like forces or tissue rigidity, triggering downstream cell responses. 

Just like biochemical stimuli initiate signaling cascades, mechanical forces affect the links and conformation of a network of molecules connecting cells to the extracellular matrix. This molecular and cellular response to force constitutes the phenomenon of mechanotransduction. 

To study mechanotransduction, we combine biophysical techniques like magnetic and optical tweezers, Atomic Force Microscopy, traction microscopy, and microfabricated force sensors with molecular biology, advanced optical microscopy, and theoretical modelling. 

Sensing the environment: Using this multi-disciplinary approach, we have unveiled a molecular mechanism that cells employ to detect and respond to the rigidity of their environment, which could be crucial in breast tissue and breast cancer (Elosegui-Artola et al., 2016 Nat. Cell Biol., and Elosegui-Artola et al. 2014, Nature Mater.). This mechanism is mediated by what is known as a “molecular clutch”: in a surprising analogy with a car engine, cells can be understood as a molecular network that can engage and disengage from its environment, just as the clutch of a car. This affects force transmission from the environment to cells, and also within different cell components. We are also expanding on the idea of the molecular clutch, to explore how cell molecular engines sense not only mechanical rigidity, but other important parameters from their environment: for instance, the composition and distribution of ligands in the extracellular matrix, or other cells. In this regard, we uncovered that this concept can explain how cells sense the spatial distribution of ligands in the extracellular matrix (Oria et al., Nature 2017). We have also demonstrated that cell-cell force transmission, mediated by a molecular clutch, is essential for cells to sense gradients in stiffness (Sunyer et al., Science 2016, in collaboration with the group of Xavier Trepat).

Nuclear mechanotransduction: Forces applied to cells are transmitted all the way to the cell nucleus, where they affect its function. We are studying how this force transmission affects the dynamics of transcriptional regulators, such as YAP (Elosegui-Artola et al., 2017, Cell), and how this affects cell function.

The membrane as a mechanosensor: Due to its mechanical properties, the plasma membrane itself can respond to forces and act as a mechanosensor. Recently, we have shown that cell membranes can use purely physical principles to adapt their shape in response to mechanical forces (Kosmalska et al., 2015, Nat. Commun.). We are currently studying how cells harness this physical membrane behavior to respond to signals from their environment.

Ultimately, when we determine the molecular mechanisms that communicate cells with their environment, we will understand how forces determine development when things go right, and tumor formation when they go wrong.

Video: How tissue stiffness activates cancer

STAFF

The following is a list of the current staff members of the research group:

Pere Roca-Cusachs Soulere

Group Leader
+34 934 020 863
procaibecbarcelona.eu

PROJECTS

NATIONAL PROJECTSFINANCERPI
MECNUC · Estudio del control mecánico de la localización nuclear de proteínas (2020-2023)MINECO
Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D
Pere Roca-Cusachs
BLOCMEC Development of small molecules to block mechanotransduction for pancreatic cancer therapy (2021-2023)MICIU, Proyectos Pruebas de ConceptoPere Roca-Cusachs
INTROPY INhibiting mechanoTRansduction for Oncology theraPY (2021-2023)ACCIO, Tecniospring IndustryMamatha Nijaguna
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTSFINANCERPI
MECHANOCONTROL · Mechanical control of biological function (2017-2021)European Commission, FET ProactivePere Roca-Cusachs
TALVIN · Inhibiting mechanotransduction for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (2018-2021)European Commission, FET Innovation LaunchpadPere Roca-Cusachs
MECHANOSITY Mechanical regulation of cellular behaviour in 3D viscoelastic materials (2019-2022)European Commission, MARIE CURIEAlberto Elosegui
PRIVATELY-FUNDED PROJECTSFINANCERPI
Mech4Cancer · Enabling technologies to map nuclear mechanosensing: from organoids to tumors (2020-2023)Obra Social La Caixa
Health Research Call
Pere Roca-Cusachs
Understanding YAP-mediated mechanotransduction in pancreatic cancer (2020-2023)Fundació La Marató de TV3Pere Roca-Cusachs
Understanding and measuring mechanical tumor properties to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival: Application to liquid biòpsies (2017-2022)Obra Social La Caixa Pere Roca-Cusachs
FINISHED PROJECTSFINANCERPI
Desarrollo de una terapia innovadora para el tratamiento de los tumores sólidos mediante la inhibición de la mecanotransducción (2018-2020)MINECO, Subprograma Retos-ColaboraciónPere Roca-Cusachs
Understanding and measuring mechanical tumor properties to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival: Application to liquid biopsies (2017-2020)Obra Social La CaixaPere Roca-Cusachs
IMREG El sistema acoplado entre integrinas y proteínas adaptadoras como regulador mecánico del comportamiento celular (2016-2020)MINECO, Proyectos I+D Excelencia
Pere Roca-Cusachs
MECHANOMEMBRANE Redes mecanoquímicas en la membrana plasmática (2017-2018)MINECO, Subprograma Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento “EUROPA EXCELENCIA”Pere Roca-Cusachs
Stromal stiffness in tumor progression (2014-2017)Fundació La Marató de TV3Pere Roca-Cusachs
MECBIO Red de Excelencia en Mecanobiología (2014-2016)MINECO, Subprograma Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento “REDES DE EXCELENCIA”Pere Roca-Cusachs
Inhibiting mechanostransduction as a novel therapy in the treatment of solid tumors (2017-2018)Obra Social La CaixaPere Roca-Cusachs

PUBLICATIONS

Click here for a list of publications by Pere Roca-Cusachs with IBEC affiliation.

Click here for a full list of publications including those affiliated to other organisations.

EQUIPMENT

  • Confocal Microcopy
  • Traction Microscopy
  • Live cell fluorescence microscopy
  • Cell stretching
  • Cell culture
  • Magnetic Tweezers
  • Atomic Force Microscopy
  • Surface Micro/Nano-patterning
  • Optical tweezers

COLLABORATIONS

  • Dr. Nils Gauthier 
    Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore 
  • Prof. Miguel Ángel del Pozo 
    Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 
  • Prof. Marino Arroyo 
    UPC, Barcelona 
  • Prof. Ada Cavalcanti 
    University of Heidelberg, Germany 
  • Satyajit Mayor 
    National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India 
  • Sergi Garcia-Manyes 
    King’s College, London, UK 
  • Louise Jones 
    Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK 
  • Aránzazu del Campo 
    INM Saarbrücken, Germany 
  • Patrick Derksen 
    UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands  
  • Johanna Ivaska 
    University of Turku, Finland  
  • Jacco van Rheenen 
    Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands  
  • Isaac Almendros and Ramon Farré 
    UB, Barcelona 
  • Marc Martí-Renom 
    CNAG, Barcelona  
  • Marc Güell 
    UPF, Barcelona 
  • Francisco Real 
    CNIO, Madrid 
  • Jonas Ries 
    Max Perutz labs, Vienna 

Clinical collaborations

  • University Medical Centre Utrecht 
  • Vall d’hebron Institute of Oncology 

NEWS

For the sixth consecutive year, IBEC has successfully hosted its ‘Mad for Bioengineering’ course with the support of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation. Geared towards 1st-year high school students interested in STEM careers, the program provides a unique immersion in the field of bioengineering, addressing health issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. The closing ceremony, attended by students and their families, featured presentations of final projects and the awarding of diplomas.

Success at the conclusion of the 6th edition of the course “Mad for Bioengineering”

For the sixth consecutive year, IBEC has successfully hosted its ‘Mad for Bioengineering’ course with the support of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation. Geared towards 1st-year high school students interested in STEM careers, the program provides a unique immersion in the field of bioengineering, addressing health issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. The closing ceremony, attended by students and their families, featured presentations of final projects and the awarding of diplomas.

A study led by the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia demonstrates that laminin, a protein present in breast tissues, prevents the effects of stiffening, protecting cells against tumor growth. While the mechanism has been demonstrated in vitro, persuasive indications suggest its potential applicability in vivo, as observed in patient samples.

Preventing the tissue’s response to stiffness may be key to slowing the progression of breast tumors

A study led by the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia demonstrates that laminin, a protein present in breast tissues, prevents the effects of stiffening, protecting cells against tumor growth. While the mechanism has been demonstrated in vitro, persuasive indications suggest its potential applicability in vivo, as observed in patient samples.

IBEC researcher Pere Roca-Cusachs has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant, one of the EU’s most prestigious and competitive grants. This type of funding allows established researchers to carry out … Read more

Researcher Pere Roca-Cusachs has been awarded the European ERC Advanced Grant

IBEC researcher Pere Roca-Cusachs has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant, one of the EU’s most prestigious and competitive grants. This type of funding allows established researchers to carry out … Read more

The IBEC researcher has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant, one of the most prestigious and competitive funding in the EU that allows consolidated researchers to carry out ambitious research … Read more
Pere Roca-Cusachs at the IBEC labs.

The researcher Pere Roca-Cusachs awarded a prestigious European ERC Advanced Grant

The IBEC researcher has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant, one of the most prestigious and competitive funding in the EU that allows consolidated researchers to carry out ambitious research … Read more

A study led by IBEC researchers, and published in Nature Cell Biology, shows that applying mechanical force to the cell nucleus affects the transport of proteins across the nuclear membrane. In doing so, this controls cellular processes and could play a key role in various diseases, such as cancer. This entails a novel approach to understanding aspects of cancer invasion and metastasis, opening the door to potential new techniques for diagnosis and therapy.

Mechanosensing: harnessing nuclear mechanics to understand health and disease

A study led by IBEC researchers, and published in Nature Cell Biology, shows that applying mechanical force to the cell nucleus affects the transport of proteins across the nuclear membrane. In doing so, this controls cellular processes and could play a key role in various diseases, such as cancer. This entails a novel approach to understanding aspects of cancer invasion and metastasis, opening the door to potential new techniques for diagnosis and therapy.

A team of researchers at IBEC and UPC, led by Pere Roca-Cusachs and Marino Arroyo, study how BAR proteins, a family of molecules that bind curved cellular membranes, reshape these membranes. Scientists report in the journal Nature Communications, through both experiments and modelling, the dynamics of these membrane reshaping processes that occur both in normal cells or disease scenarios.

Researchers discover how cellular membranes change curvature depending on BAR proteins

A team of researchers at IBEC and UPC, led by Pere Roca-Cusachs and Marino Arroyo, study how BAR proteins, a family of molecules that bind curved cellular membranes, reshape these membranes. Scientists report in the journal Nature Communications, through both experiments and modelling, the dynamics of these membrane reshaping processes that occur both in normal cells or disease scenarios.

JOBS