Nuclear mechanical heterogeneity: Regime-aware measurement and interpretation
The cell nucleus is a mechanically heterogeneous organelle whose mesoscale properties vary across space, time, and cellular context. Because nuclear mechanical readouts depend on loading rate, deformation amplitude, spatial sampling, and boundary conditions, measurements from different techniques are not directly interchangeable. Here, we present a regime-aware framework for nuclear mechanical phenotyping that links experimental observables to their physical assumptions and measurement kernels. We discuss key structural contributors, measurement approaches, and modeling strategies, and outline practical guidelines for cross-modality comparison and integration with molecular and structural readouts.
Authors
- Sandra Montalvo-Quirós (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5031-6455)
- Ramiro Perezzan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8230-5761)
- Francisco Monroy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6455-3083)
- Diego Herráez‐Aguilar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9764-4210)
- Carlos del Pozo-Rojas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8128-4438)
- Lucía Benito-Barca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6808-0279)
- Irene Alferez
- Jorge Barcenilla
Institutions
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
- Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (ES)
- Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (ES)
- Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Biological Physics and Mechanics.
- Published
- 2026-10-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44341-026-00054-6
- Primary Topic
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universidad Francisco de Vitoria