Dynamic phase transitions in cell spreading

The isotropic spreading of mouse embryonic fibroblasts on fibronectin-coated substrates was monitored. The power-law area growth with distinct exponents in three sequential phases, that includes basal, continuous and contractile spreading were found. It was also observed that to characterize local membrane dynamics at the spreading front, high resolution differential interference contrast microscopy was used. The results show that the classification of cell spreading into phases with distinct functional characteristics and protein activity was used as a paradigm for a general program of a phase classification of cellular phenotype.