Regensburg 2016 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 37: Cell Mechanics and Migration

BP 37.7: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 9. März 2016, 11:45–12:00, H44

Transfer of mechanical stimuli along single microtubules and small networks — •Alexander Rohrbach and Matthias Koch — Universität Freiburg, IMTEK, Georges-Köhler-Allee 102, 79100 Freiburg

Mechanic stimulation allows integrating different parts of a cell nearly instantaneously and is relevant for the response to pressure, gravity, osmotic changes, but also to organize different regions of a dynamic cell into one entity. To explain how a stimulus can propagate across a few tens of micrometers within milliseconds inside a crowded cell is far from trivial. Using time multiplexed optical tweezers and 3D interferometric tracking, we investigate how mechanical stimuli travel along single filaments or through small networks of deforming microtubules. We find that the transduction of signals depends on frequency with faster oscillations being transmitted more efficiently due to microtubule stiffening. Surprisingly, the observed elastic behavior can also be transferred to small networks, which are mechanically different. The dependency on both the frequency and the network geometry, i.e. direction-dependent signal transport are important for biological self-organization based on tensegrity.