Abstract
Living cells are exquisitely responsive to mechanical cues, yet how cells produce and detect mechanical force remains poorly understood due to a lack of methods that visualize cell-generated forces at the molecular scale. Here we describe Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular tension sensors that allow us to directly visualize cell-generated forces with single-molecule sensitivity. We apply these sensors to determine the distribution of forces generated by individual integrins, a class of cell adhesion molecules with prominent roles throughout cell and developmental biology. We observe strikingly complex distributions of tensions within individual focal adhesions. FRET values measured for single probe molecules suggest that relatively modest tensions at the molecular level are sufficient to drive robust cellular adhesion.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3985-3989 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Nano Letters |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 11 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- focal adhesion
- integrin
- Mechanobiology
- mechanotransduction
- single molecule
- tension
- traction force microscopy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Bioengineering
- Chemistry(all)
- Materials Science(all)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Molecular tension sensors report forces generated by single integrin molecules in living cells. / Morimatsu, Masatoshi; Mekhdjian, Armen H.; Adhikari, Arjun S.; Dunn, Alexander R.
In: Nano Letters, Vol. 13, No. 9, 11.09.2013, p. 3985-3989.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular tension sensors report forces generated by single integrin molecules in living cells
AU - Morimatsu, Masatoshi
AU - Mekhdjian, Armen H.
AU - Adhikari, Arjun S.
AU - Dunn, Alexander R.
PY - 2013/9/11
Y1 - 2013/9/11
N2 - Living cells are exquisitely responsive to mechanical cues, yet how cells produce and detect mechanical force remains poorly understood due to a lack of methods that visualize cell-generated forces at the molecular scale. Here we describe Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular tension sensors that allow us to directly visualize cell-generated forces with single-molecule sensitivity. We apply these sensors to determine the distribution of forces generated by individual integrins, a class of cell adhesion molecules with prominent roles throughout cell and developmental biology. We observe strikingly complex distributions of tensions within individual focal adhesions. FRET values measured for single probe molecules suggest that relatively modest tensions at the molecular level are sufficient to drive robust cellular adhesion.
AB - Living cells are exquisitely responsive to mechanical cues, yet how cells produce and detect mechanical force remains poorly understood due to a lack of methods that visualize cell-generated forces at the molecular scale. Here we describe Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular tension sensors that allow us to directly visualize cell-generated forces with single-molecule sensitivity. We apply these sensors to determine the distribution of forces generated by individual integrins, a class of cell adhesion molecules with prominent roles throughout cell and developmental biology. We observe strikingly complex distributions of tensions within individual focal adhesions. FRET values measured for single probe molecules suggest that relatively modest tensions at the molecular level are sufficient to drive robust cellular adhesion.
KW - focal adhesion
KW - integrin
KW - Mechanobiology
KW - mechanotransduction
KW - single molecule
KW - tension
KW - traction force microscopy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884243072&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884243072&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/nl4005145
DO - 10.1021/nl4005145
M3 - Article
VL - 13
SP - 3985
EP - 3989
JO - Nano Letters
JF - Nano Letters
SN - 1530-6984
IS - 9
ER -