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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 13: Cell Adhesion II

AKB 13.5: Vortrag

Dienstag, 28. März 2006, 15:30–15:45, ZEU 260

How Mechanical Forces Controll Cell Adhesion — •Matthias F. Schneider¹, Stefan W. Schneider², and Achim Wixforth¹ — ¹Biophysics Group, Universität Augsburg, Universitätsstr. 1, D-86135 Augsburg, ermany — ²Deptartment of Dermatology, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, D-48149 Muenster, Germany

Proteins and cells are exposed to a variety of flow conditions when traveling through our vascular system. Shear rates range between 1 to 10000 1/s. The impact of such high shear forces on the protein’s function and its controll of adhesion is being investigated in the present study. Therefore we designed a novel acoustically driven microfluidic device (few microliters) to mimick blood flow szenarios on a chip. We found that von willebrand factor (VWF) - the key protein in the first steps of platelet adhesion- is a shear flow and hence mechanically activated protein. At a critical shear rate the protein undergoes a discontinous conformation from a compact coil to an elongated fiber. Only when elongated the protein binds to the surface and is able to mediate blood platelet adhesion.

This is an excellent example how mechanicall forces controll cellular functions. As an example it is discussed how the described effect is able to explain the onset of arteriosclerosis in narrow arteries.