Biophysical Tools for Cellular and Subcellular Mechanical Actuation of Cell Signaling

Liu, Allen

doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2016.02.043

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 65 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…It is worth noting that, thanks to its detailed and broad biophysical characterization ( Iscla and Blount, 2012 ), the MscL could be easily engineered ( Liu, 2016 ). Indeed, well-established procedures to change the mechanosensitivity, channel conductance and gating mechanism of the MscL, are already available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechano-sensitization of mammalian neuronal networks through expression of the bacterial large-conductance mechanosensitive ion channel

Soloperto

Boccaccio

Contestabile

et al. 2018

Journal of Cell Science

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Development of remote stimulation techniques for neuronal tissues represents a challenging goal. Among the potential methods, mechanical stimuli are the most promising vectors to convey information non-invasively into intact brain tissue. In this context, selective mechano-sensitization of neuronal circuits would pave the way to develop a new cell-type-specific stimulation approach. We report here, for the first time, the development and characterization of mechano-sensitized neuronal networks through the heterologous expression of an engineered bacterial large-conductance mechanosensitive ion channel (MscL). The neuronal functional expression of the MscL was validated through patch-clamp recordings upon application of calibrated suction pressures. Moreover, we verified the effective development of in-vitro neuronal networks expressing the engineered MscL in terms of cell survival, number of synaptic puncta and spontaneous network activity. The pure mechanosensitivity of the engineered MscL, with its wide genetic modification library, may represent a versatile tool to further develop a mechano-genetic approach.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechano-sensitization of mammalian neuronal networks through expression of the bacterial large-conductance mechanosensitive ion channel

Soloperto

Boccaccio

Contestabile

et al. 2018

Journal of Cell Science

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“…While AFM is a powerful approach to apply compressive forces and measure deformation of cells, this sophisticated method has a low throughput (e.g., one cell at a time) and requires expensive equipment and technical expertise. Microfluidics holds great promise as a next generation tool for mechanically perturbing single cells (Liu, 2016 ). With the integration of microsized and fast-operating valves in the microfluidic system, several microfluidic platforms have been developed for studying biological responses of cells under a compressive stress (Kim et al, 2007 ; Hosmane et al, 2011 ; Si et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Microfluidic Device Designed for Cyclic Compression of Single Adherent Cells

Wang

et al. 2018

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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Cells in our body experience different types of stress including compression, tension, and shear. It has been shown that some cells experience permanent plastic deformation after a mechanical tensile load was removed. However, it was unclear whether cells are plastically deformed after repetitive compressive loading and unloading. There have been few tools available to exert cyclic compression at the single cell level. To address technical challenges found in a previous microfluidic compression device, we developed a new single-cell microfluidic compression device that combines an elastomeric membrane block geometry to ensure a flat contact surface and microcontact printing to confine cell spreading within cell trapping chambers. The design of the block geometry inside the compression chamber was optimized by using computational simulations. Additionally, we have implemented step-wise pneumatically controlled cell trapping to allow more compression chambers to be incorporated while minimizing mechanical perturbation on trapped cells. Using breast epithelial MCF10A cells stably expressing a fluorescent actin marker, we successfully demonstrated the new device design by separately trapping single cells in different chambers, confining cell spreading on microcontact printed islands, and applying cyclic planar compression onto single cells. We found that there is no permanent deformation after a 0.5 Hz cyclic compressive load for 6 min was removed. Overall, the development of the single-cell compression microfluidic device opens up new opportunities in mechanobiology and cell mechanics studies.

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“…Finally, the transposition of our strategy into living cells will be powerful to target and manipulate specific proteins and cellular organelles by combining chemically induced dimerization and magnetic manipulation 23 , 63 , 65 . A fully-genetically encoded strategy, avoiding in vitro biomineralisation and injection into cells, will require novel approaches to catalyse enhanced magnetic phases within cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Programmed Self-Assembly of a Biochemical and Magnetic Scaffold to Trigger and Manipulate Microtubule Structures

Ducasse

Wang

Navarro

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Artificial bio-based scaffolds offer broad applications in bioinspired chemistry, nanomedicine, and material science. One current challenge is to understand how the programmed self-assembly of biomolecules at the nanometre level can dictate the emergence of new functional properties at the mesoscopic scale. Here we report a general approach to design genetically encoded protein-based scaffolds with modular biochemical and magnetic functions. By combining chemically induced dimerization strategies and biomineralisation, we engineered ferritin nanocages to nucleate and manipulate microtubule structures upon magnetic actuation. Triggering the self-assembly of engineered ferritins into micrometric scaffolds mimics the function of centrosomes, the microtubule organizing centres of cells, and provides unique magnetic and self-organizing properties. We anticipate that our approach could be transposed to control various biological processes and extend to broader applications in biotechnology or material chemistry.

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Biophysical Tools for Cellular and Subcellular Mechanical Actuation of Cell Signaling

Cited by 24 publications

References 65 publications

Mechano-sensitization of mammalian neuronal networks through expression of the bacterial large-conductance mechanosensitive ion channel

Mechano-sensitization of mammalian neuronal networks through expression of the bacterial large-conductance mechanosensitive ion channel

Advanced Microfluidic Device Designed for Cyclic Compression of Single Adherent Cells

Programmed Self-Assembly of a Biochemical and Magnetic Scaffold to Trigger and Manipulate Microtubule Structures

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