Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 30: Posters: Physics of Cells

BP 30.24: Poster

Thursday, March 17, 2011, 17:15–20:00, P3

Rheology of suspended cells: microscopic mechanisms and biological relevance — Franziska Lautenschläger, Andrew Ekpenyong, Danielle Kaminski, Graeme Whyte, and •Jochen Guck — Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK

The mechanical properties of cells are largely governed by the cytoskeleton, an internal hybrid polymer network, and its connection to the cell nucleus. We have used an optical stretcher to investigate the microscopic origin of the rheological properties of various cells in suspension, which differ characteristically from attached cells. Suspended cells are more amenable to polymer theoretical comparison because their cytoskeleton is rather isotropic and not confounded by stress fibers. Also the function of molecular motors is contrary to that of attached cells, and leads to a viscous softening in suspension. Finally, cell rheological properties will be discussed in the context of stem cell pluripotency, epigenetic chromatin condensation, corresponding changes during differentiation and in laminopathies.