Guiding cellular activity with polarized light. Issue 1 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Constant, Colin; Bergano, Andrea; Sugaya, Kiminobu; Dogariu, Aristide
• Is Part Of: Journal of biophotonics. Volume 11:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Actin -- polarized light -- cellular activity -- motility; Photonics -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Medical instruments and apparatus -- Periodicals; 621.3605
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201600326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-063X

Abstract

Abstract: Actin, cytoskeleton protein forming microfilaments, play a crucial role in cellular motility. Here we show that exposure to very low levels of polarized light guide their orientation in‐vivo within the live cell. Using a simple model to describe the role of actin‐filament orientation in directional cellular motion, we demonstrate that the actin polymerization/depolymerization mechanism develops primarily along this direction and, under certain conditions, can lead to guidance of the cell movement. Our results also show a dose dependent increase in actin activity in direct correspondence to the level of laser irradiance. We found that total expression of Tau protein, which stabilize microtubules, was decreased by the irradiance, indicating that exposure to the light may change the activity of kinase, leading to increased cell activity. Abstract : Polarized light can exert a force on dielectric materials causing them to align in the direction of polarization. We show here that the activity of the sub‐cellular component, actin, responsible for cellular motion, is also affected by the action of polarized light. Using statistically robust methods for image analysis, we demonstrate that preferred actin motion is directed along the direction of light polarization, indicating possible control over motion of the entire cell.