Figure 5. Models based on the V-tension-CMAC area relationship match empirically observed data.
Modelling was performed as described in Methods and Supplementary Fig. 6 in Supplementary Notes. (a) Maps in Fig. 4a and Supplementary Fig. 4 were used in modelling to simulate cell-matrix adhesion complex (CMAC) behaviour using an initial CMAC area of 0.2 μm2 and the empirical median initial vinculin-mediated tension (V-tension) (0.1 a.u.) as a starting point. A sample synthetic CMAC trajectory within the CMAC area-conditioned cross-correlation map is displayed and colour-coded for simulation iterations. (b) CMAC area per iteration is shown for the same synthetic CMAC shown in a, wherein complete CMAC assembly and disassembly occur within 60 iterations. (c–g) Synthetic distributions for CMAC area (c), V-tension (d), ΔCMAC area (e), ΔV-tension (f), and CMAC lifetime (LT) (g) were plotted as cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and compared with the empirical CMAC feature distributions (CDFs in black). Other CDF colours indicate results from selected models that best predict: the empirical lifetime distribution (red); the empirical CMAC area distribution (green); both empirical CMAC area and lifetime distributions (blue); or all five key CMAC feature empirical distributions (magenta) according to the goodness-of-fit Pearson's χ2 statistics.