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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 29: Posters: Biopolymers \& Biomaterials
BP 29.23: Poster
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 17:15–20:00, P3
Viscoelastic in-vitro study of cellular actin structures — Timo Maier1,2, •Tamás Haraszti1,2, and Joachim P. Spatz1,2 — 1Max-Planck Institute for Metalsreseach, Stuttgart, Germany — 2Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Cellular actin structures are a crucial part of the cytoskeleton. These structures are determined by several factors, such as the presence of actin binding proteins (ABPs), ions and intracellular macromolecules. In their distinct forms of appearance they are able to adapt to physical and chemical changes and serve thus to sustain constitution and preservation of the cellular shape and motility.
In vitro biomimetic actin model networks open the possibility to analyse the physical and chemical properties in a controlled environment. We have previously developed a flow cell to form stress fiber like structures on pillar substrates. Shape of the filamentous topology is thereby controlled by the flow forces as well as crosslinker agents. Here we report the development of an in situ polymerization method within these microfluidic channels forming a refined mesh structure with a better visual resemblance to the actin cortex.
While in the last two decades, macro- and microrheological investigations of actin focused on the viscoelastic behaviour of three dimensional gels it is our ambition to determine distinctions in its characteristics due to the transition to two or one dimensional structures.