Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 32: Posters: Physics of Cells

BP 32.27: Poster

Thursday, March 25, 2010, 17:15–20:00, Poster B1

Mechanical characterization of primary cilia of epithelial cells — •Christopher Battle and Christoph F. Schmidt — Drittes Physikalisches Institut, Georg-August Universitaet, Goettingen, Germany

Recent studies have shown that the primary cilium, long thought to be a vestigial cellular appendage with no function, has remarkable sensory abilities. Of particular interest, from both a biophysical and medical standpoint, are the primary cilia in kidney epithelial cells, which have been demonstrated to act as tiny flow sensors. The cilia are lined with mechanosensitive TRP channels (PC2), which allow the influx of cations into the cell in response to mechanical stimuli. We explore the mechanical response of this system using fluorescence microscopy and optical trapping techniques.