Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T04:21:37.172Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cytoskeletal Dynamics of Neurons Measured by Combined Fluorescence and Atomic Force Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2018

Peter Moore
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, 574 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA02155
Cristian Staii*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, 574 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA02155
*
Get access

Abstract

Mechanical properties of neurons represent a key factor that determines the functionality of neuronal cells and the formation of neural networks. The main source of mechanical stability for the cell is a biopolymer network of microtubules and actin filaments that form the main components of the cellular cytoskeleton. This biopolymer network is responsible for the growth of neuronal cells as they extend neurites to connect with other neurons, forming the nervous system. Here we present experimental results that combine atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy to produce systematic, high-resolution elasticity and fluorescence maps of cortical neurons. This approach allows us to apply external forces to neurons, and to monitor the dynamics of the cell cytoskeleton. We measure how the elastic modulus of neurons changes upon changing the ambient temperature, and identify the cytoskeletal components responsible for these changes. These results demonstrate the importance of taking into account the effect of ambient temperature when measuring the mechanical properties of cells.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Lowery, L.A. and van Vactor, D., Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biology 10, 332343, (2009).Google Scholar
Franze, K. and Guck, J., Rep. Prog. Phys. 73, 094601 (2010).Google Scholar
Spedden, E. White, J.D., Naumova, E.N., Kaplan, D.L., and Staii, C., Biophys J. 103, 868877 (2012).Google Scholar
Spedden, E., Kaplan, K. D.L., and Staii, C., Phys. Biol. 10, 056002, (2013).Google Scholar
Spedden, E. and Staii, C., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14, 16124–40, (2013).Google Scholar
Sunyer, R., Trepat, X., Fredberg, J.J., Farre, R. and Navajas, D., Phys. Biol 6, 025009 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar