# Utilizing Endocytic Dynamics to Obtain Comprehensive Spatiotemporal Tension Maps of Live Tissues

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $342,556

## Abstract

Utilizing Endocytic Dynamics to Obtain Comprehensive Spatiotemporal Tension Maps of Live
Tissues
 Project Summary
 Tension in tissues relates to pivotal morphological changes during development, as well as pathologic
transformations that trigger cardiovascular disorders and cancer metastasis. Prevalent techniques employed to
quantify cellular tension are not applicable to tissues due to their invasive nature. This technical gap is a critical
barrier for biomedical research aiming to elucidate the roles of tissue mechanics in disease progression and
developmental disorders.
 We propose developing a methodology for quantifying the tensile forces within cells and tissues by
characterizing the tension response of a major cellular membrane traffic pathway: clathrin-mediated
endocytosis (CME). Our previous works and precursor experiments show that spatial and temporal variations
in tension can be determined through the analysis of CME dynamics in cells. We propose that the robust
anticorrelation between tension and CME dynamics can be used to develop comprehensive spatiotemporal
tension maps of living systems noninvasively.
 In Aim 1, we will characterize the parameters defining CME dynamics at distinct values of cell tension. We
will also determine the spatial and temporal resolving power of tension maps developed using CME dynamics.
In Aim 2, we will validate the applicability of the proposed methodology to tissues of living multicellular
organisms. We will use Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis as the model developing organism. In Aim 3,
we will develop a software platform for generating tension maps by utilizing CME dynamics.
 We envision that this high-risk, high-payoff approach will provide a major leap in biomedical research as it
offers noninvasive assembly of comprehensive spatiotemporal tension maps of tissues using broadly available
fluorescence imaging modalities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9918922
- **Project number:** 5R01GM127526-03
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Comert Kural
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $342,556
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9918922

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9918922, Utilizing Endocytic Dynamics to Obtain Comprehensive Spatiotemporal Tension Maps of Live Tissues (5R01GM127526-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9918922. Licensed CC0.

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