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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 16: Posters: Cell adhesion, mechanics and migration

BP 16.14: Poster

Montag, 16. März 2015, 17:30–19:30, Poster A

Inducing cell mechanical responses using optical tweezers — •Rebecca Michiels and Alexander Rohrbach — Lab for Bio- and Nano-Photonics, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

Cells have the ability to both sense mechanical stimuli as well as apply controlled mechanical forces to their environment. Examples are cell migration, the anchoring of the cell on substrates and the uptake of particles in phagocytosis. These processes require complex intracellular remodeling involving reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in cooperation with molecular motors. Many of the underlying physical principles of how cells tune their reactions to external mechanical stimuli are little understood.

We use a microscope setup in which we combine conventional DIC microscopy together with optical tweezers and particle tracking. Polystyrene beads are held in an optical trap to enable controlled placement in the vicinity of the cells. The motion of the bead in the trap can be tracked in 3D with nanometer precision at a microsecond timescale using back focal plane interferometry. This configuration enables us to induce and analyze cellular responses in a reproducible investigation scheme.

By varying the spatiotemporal pattern and the intensity of stimuli we want to gain deeper insights into the physics governing cell mechanics. We present first results from novel experiments using optical traps to trigger response patterns in cells.