Optomechanical measurement of the role of lamins in whole cell deformability. Issue 12 (9th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolb, Thorsten; Kraxner, Julia; Skodzek, Kai; Haug, Michael; Crawford, Dean; Maaß, Kendra K.; Aifantis, Katerina E.; Whyte, Graeme
• Other Names: Luo Qingming guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of biophotonics. Volume 10:Issue 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1657
• Page End: 1664
• Publication Date: 2017-05-09
• Subjects: Optical Stretcher -- Single-Cell Analysis -- Cell Mechanics -- Nuclear Envelope -- Lamin A; Photonics -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Medical instruments and apparatus -- Periodicals; 621.3605
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201600198
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-063X

Abstract

Abstract: There is mounting evidence that the nuclear envelope, and particularly the lamina, plays a critical role in the mechanical and regulation properties of the cell and changes to the lamina can have implications for the physical properties of the whole cell. In this study we demonstrate that the optical stretcher can measure changes in the time‐dependent mechanical properties of living cells with different levels of A‐type lamin expression. Results from the optical stretcher shows a decrease in the deformability of cells as the levels of lamin A increases, for cells which grow both adherently and in suspension. Further detail can be probed by combining the optical stretcher with fluorescence microscopy to investigate the nuclear mechanical properties which show a larger decrease in deformability than for the whole cell. Abstract : The nuclear lamina provides a physical layer of filamentous protein around a cell's nucleus which can alter the mechanical properties of the cell. We use optical forces to investigate the changing deformability of the whole cell and the nucleus with differing levels of A‐type lamins within the nuclear envelope. The optical stretcher provides a detailed measurement of the time‐dependent deformation of the cell and nucleus which can be used to investigate the role of lamins.