Aim: 

To determine the influence of substrate nano-topography and mechanics on primary cilia structure and function and the role of the cilium in directing stem cell differentiation.

Background & Hypothesis: 

Nano topography and changes in substrate mechanics have been shown to regulate cell behaviour including regulation of stem cell differentiation. Recent studies suggest that primary cilia are involved in stem cell differentiation (Tummala 2010). This study tests the hypothesis that primary cilia are involved in sensing and responding to substrate topographical and mechanical cues and that this produces changes in cilia structure and function as well as regulating downstream cellular responses. We will also examine the involvement of primary cilia regulating in stem cell differentiation in response to topographical patterning. Primary cilia are microtubule based organelles that project into the extracellular milleu in many mammalian cell types. Within the last 10 years, research has shown that primary cilia are important in many aspects of cell behaviour from developmental hedgehog signalling to environmental sensing.