Berlin 2012 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 2: Physics of Cells I
BP 2.6: Vortrag
Montag, 26. März 2012, 11:00–11:15, H 1028
Mechanics in Neuronal Development — •Kristian Franze1,2, Hanno Svoboda1, Andreas F. Christ2, Luciano da F. Costa3, Christine E. Holt1, and Jochen Guck2 — 1Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience — 2Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, UK — 3Instituto de Fisica de Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
During the development of the nervous system, neurons migrate and grow over great distances. During these processes, they are exposed to a multitude of signals influencing their speed and direction. Currently, our understanding of neuronal development is, in large part, based on studies of biochemical signalling. Despite the fact that forces are involved in any kind of active cell motion, mechanical signalling has so far rarely been considered. Here we used atomic force microscopy to study the mechanical properties of developing brain tissue. Additionally, we exploited deformable cell culture substrates, traction force microscopy and calcium imaging to investigate how neurons respond to their mechanical environment. The tendency to grow in bundles, which neurons show in vivo, was significantly enhanced on soft substrates. Moreover, if grown on substrates incorporating linear stiffness gradients, neurons were repelled by stiff substrates. Calcium influxes through the activation of stretch-activated ion channels appear to be involved in neuronal mechanosensitivity. A comparison of our in vitro findings with the neurons' in vivo environment suggests that mechanical signalling is involved in neuronal pathfinding and constitutes a formerly unknown guidance mechanism.