Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 100: Poster Session I

AKB 100.73: Poster

Saturday, March 5, 2005, 16:45–18:45, Poster TU D

Cytoskeletal assembly in optical neuronal guidance. — •Allen Ehrlicher, Timo Betz, Bjoern Stuhrmann, Michael Goegler, Daniel Koch, and Josef Kaes — Universität Leipzig, Fakultät für Physik und Geowissenschaften, Linnestr. 5, D-04103 Leipzig

The ability to control neuronal growth is a fundamental goal of neuroscience. Although various techniques have been used previously, it has been shown recently that optical gradients can also be used to guide the advancing edge of the growth cone in neuronal cell lines [Ehrlicher et al. PNAS 2002]. While this effect has been observed for different neuronal cell types, the underlying interactions behind the effect are unclear. In this study we examine the contribution of microtubules to the effect. Using disrupting and stabilizing drugs such as nocodazole and taxol, we selectively modified the microtubule structure during and without optical guidance, and visualized their dynamic distribution using fluorescent markers. A better understanding of the cytoskeletal dynamics in optical guidance will not only help to improve the effect, but contribute valuable insight into neuronal growth as well as cellular motility in general.