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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 8: Poster Session Ia
BP 8.10: Poster
Montag, 18. März 2024, 18:00–20:30, Poster C
Quantitative description of cellular adhesion forces and corresponding focal adhesions — •Kathi Michèle Kaiser1, Carsten Baltes1, Ben Wieland2, Gubesh Gunaratnam2, and Franziska Lautenschläger1,3 — 1Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany — 2Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany — 3Center of Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
The adhesion force of a cell has a huge impact on various processes linked to adhesion, for example in metastasis. Controlling the adhesion force means controlling the balance between adhesive and non-adhesive forces which could help to prevent the formation of metastasis.
The adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix is mediated by integrin receptors, which link the cytoskeleton of the cell to the extracellular environment. On the cytoplasmic side these receptors are connected to actin filament bundles via an assembly of proteins forming the focal adhesions (FA).
My aim is to find a correlation between the number and size of the FAs and the adhesion force of a cell. Different compounds, which alter the dynamics of actin, were used to change the properties of the FAs. With a TIRF microscope the FAs could be imaged. To measure the adhesion force of single cells a fluid force microscope was used. These measurements enabled us to quantitatively describe and correlate the adhesion forces corresponding to the properties of the FAs. Once we understand this correlation, we will be able to understand an altered adhesion in a pathogenic context or to actively influence adhesion.
Keywords: Adhesion force; Focal adhesions; Fluid Force Microscope