We are analising how substrate stiffness influences the lipid composition of different cellular models. We are using polyacrylamide (PAA) hydrogels to control the mechanical properties  of those substrates and cells are seeded on gels which have been previously coated with ECM (extracellular matrix) proteins (i.e. collagen I, vitronectin or fibronectin) and sterilized. This set up has the potential to allow a comprehensive study of signal transduction from the ECM and I will use it to investigate how substrate stiffness influences membrane tension and cellular lipid metabolism and composition.