Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 38: Active cell and tissue mechanics (focus session) II

BP 38.1: Topical Talk

Thursday, April 3, 2014, 15:00–15:30, HÜL 386

Analyzing integrin's force transduction using novel biosensors — •Carsten Grashoff — Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, Am Klopferpsitz 18, 82152 Planegg, Germany

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix is mediated by integrin receptors which connect to the cytoskeleton in complex structures called focal adhesions (FAs). The ability of these adhesions to bear and transduce mechanical forces is central to many developmental or homeostatic processes and plays an important role in a range of pathological situations; yet our understanding of how integrin forces are propagated in FAs remains fragmentary.

One reason for our limited understanding has been the lack of suitable methods to study force propagation on the sub-cellular level in the living cell. Therefore, we have previously developed a FRET-based method to visualize and quantify mechanical forces within cells.

Here, I will introduce a novel, calibrated biosensor and describe its application to the integrin activator talin-1.