This work was supported by the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memoria Trust (to DEC) and NIH grant R35GM119617 (to DEC). The confocal microscope imaging was performed at the VCU Nanomaterials Characterization Core (NCC) Facility.

1. Obtain Nesprin-2G Sensor DNA and Other Plasmid DNA
<ol>
	<li>Obtain Nesprin-2G TS (tension sensor), Nesprin-2G HL (headless) control, mTFP1, venus, and TSmod from a commercial source. Propagate all the DNA plasmids and purify them using standard E. coli strains, such as DH5-&#945;, as described previously12,13.</li>
</ol>
2. Transfect Cells with Nesprin-2G and Other Plasmid DNA
<ol>
	<li>Grow NIH 3T3 fibroblasts cells to 70...

<ol>
	<li>Conway, D. E., Schwartz, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Flow-dependent+cellular+mechanotransduction+in+atherosclerosis.">Flow-dependent cellular mechanotransduction in atherosclerosis.</a> J Cell Sci. 126, 5101-5109 (2013).</li><li>Arsenovic, P. T., Ramachandran, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nesprin-2G,+a+Component+of+the+Nuclear+LINC+Complex,+Is+Subject+to+Myosin-Dependent+Tension.">Nesprin-2G, a Component of the Nuclear LINC Complex, Is Subject to Myosin-Dependent Tension.</a> Biophys J. 110 (1), 34-43 (2016).</li><li>Grashoff, C., Hoffman, B. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measuring+mechanical+tension+across+vinculin+reveals+regulation+of+focal+adhesion+dynamics.">Measuring mechanical tension across vinculin reveals regulation of focal adhesion dynamics.</a> Nature. 466 (7303), 263-266 (2010).</li><li>Austen, K., Ringer, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extracellular+rigidity+sensing+by+talin+isoform-specific+mechanical+linkages.">Extracellular rigidity sensing by talin isoform-specific mechanical linkages.</a> Nat Cell Bio. 17 (12), 1597-1606 (2015).</li><li>Meng, F., Sachs, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualizing+dynamic+cytoplasmic+forces+with+a+compliance-matched+FRET+sensor.">Visualizing dynamic cytoplasmic forces with a compliance-matched FRET sensor.</a> J Cell Sci. 124, 261-269 (2011).</li><li>Borghi, N., Sorokina, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=E-cadherin+is+under+constitutive+actomyosin-generated+tension+that+is+increased+at+cell-cell+contacts+upon+externally+applied+stretch.">E-cadherin is under constitutive actomyosin-generated tension that is increased at cell-cell contacts upon externally applied stretch.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 109 (31), 12568-12573 (2012).</li><li>Cai, D., Chen, S. -. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+Feedback+through+E-Cadherin+Promotes+Direction+Sensing+during+Collective+Cell+Migration.">Mechanical Feedback through E-Cadherin Promotes Direction Sensing during Collective Cell Migration.</a> Cell. 157 (5), 1146-1159 (2014).</li><li>Conway, D. E., Breckenridge, M. T., Hinde, E., Gratton, E., Chen, C. S., Schwartz, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluid+Shear+Stress+on+Endothelial+Cells+Modulates+Mechanical+Tension+across+VE-Cadherin+and+PECAM-1.">Fluid Shear Stress on Endothelial Cells Modulates Mechanical Tension across VE-Cadherin and PECAM-1.</a> Curr Bio CB. 23 (11), 1024-1030 (2013).</li><li>Brenner, M. D., Zhou, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spider+Silk+Peptide+Is+a+Compact,+Linear+Nanospring+Ideal+for+Intracellular+Tension+Sensing.">Spider Silk Peptide Is a Compact, Linear Nanospring Ideal for Intracellular Tension Sensing.</a> Nano Lett. 16 (3), 2096-2102 (2016).</li><li>Rothenberg, K. E., Neibart, S. S., LaCroix, A. S., Hoffman, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controlling+Cell+Geometry+Affects+the+Spatial+Distribution+of+Load+Across+Vinculin.">Controlling Cell Geometry Affects the Spatial Distribution of Load Across Vinculin.</a> Cell Mol Bioeng. 8 (3), 364-382 (2015).</li><li>Ostlund, C., Folker, E. S., Choi, J. C., Gomes, E. R., Gundersen, G. G., Worman, H. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamics+and+molecular+interactions+of+linker+of+nucleoskeleton+and+cytoskeleton+(LINC)+complex+proteins.">Dynamics and molecular interactions of linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex proteins.</a> J Cell Sci. 122, 4099-4108 (2009).</li><li>Froger, A., Hall, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transformation+of+plasmid+DNA+into+E.+coli+using+the+heat+shock+method.">Transformation of plasmid DNA into E. coli using the heat shock method.</a> J Vis Exp. (6), e253 (2007).</li><li>Zhang, S., Cahalan, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Purifying+plasmid+DNA+from+bacterial+colonies+using+the+QIAGEN+Miniprep+Kit.">Purifying plasmid DNA from bacterial colonies using the QIAGEN Miniprep Kit.</a> J Vis Exp. (6), e247 (2007).</li><li>Rodighiero, S., Bazzini, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fixation,+mounting+and+sealing+with+nail+polish+of+cell+specimens+lead+to+incorrect+FRET+measurements+using+acceptor+photobleaching.">Fixation, mounting and sealing with nail polish of cell specimens lead to incorrect FRET measurements using acceptor photobleaching.</a> Cell. Physiol. Biochem. 21 (5-6), 489-498 (2008).</li><li>Kardash, E., Bandemer, J., Raz, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+protein+activity+in+live+embryos+using+fluorescence+resonance+energy+transfer+biosensors.">Imaging protein activity in live embryos using fluorescence resonance energy transfer biosensors.</a> Nat Protoc. 6 (12), 1835-1846 (2011).</li><li>Vaziri, A., Mofrad, M. R. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanics+and+deformation+of+the+nucleus+in+micropipette+aspiration+experiment.">Mechanics and deformation of the nucleus in micropipette aspiration experiment.</a> J Biomech. 40 (9), 2053-2062 (2007).</li><li>Wang, N., Naruse, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+behavior+in+living+cells+consistent+with+the+tensegrity+model.">Mechanical behavior in living cells consistent with the tensegrity model.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98 (14), 7765-7770 (2001).</li><li>Nagayama, K., Yahiro, Y., Matsumoto, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stress+fibers+stabilize+the+position+of+intranuclear+DNA+through+mechanical+connection+with+the+nucleus+in+vascular+smooth+muscle+cells.">Stress fibers stabilize the position of intranuclear DNA through mechanical connection with the nucleus in vascular smooth muscle cells.</a> FEBS letters. 585 (24), 3992-3997 (2011).</li><li>Luxton, G. W. G., Gomes, E. R., Folker, E. S., Vintinner, E., Gundersen, G. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Linear+arrays+of+nuclear+envelope+proteins+harness+retrograde+actin+flow+for+nuclear+movement.">Linear arrays of nuclear envelope proteins harness retrograde actin flow for nuclear movement.</a> Science. 329 (5994), 956-959 (2010).</li><li>Chen, Y., Mauldin, J. P., Day, R. N., Periasamy, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+spectral+FRET+imaging+microscopy+for+monitoring+nuclear+protein+interactions.">Characterization of spectral FRET imaging microscopy for monitoring nuclear protein interactions.</a> J Microsc. 228, 139-152 (2007).</li><li>Ran, F. A., Hsu, P. D., Wright, J., Agarwala, V., Scott, D. A., Zhang, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genome+engineering+using+the+CRISPR-Cas9+system.">Genome engineering using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.</a> Nat Protoc. 8 (11), 2281-2308 (2013).</li><li>LaCroix, A. S., Rothenberg, K. E., Berginski, M. E., Urs, A. N., Hoffman, B. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Construction,+imaging,+and+analysis+of+FRET-based+tension+sensors+in+living+cells.">Construction, imaging, and analysis of FRET-based tension sensors in living cells.</a> Methods Cell Biol. , (2015).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

A method and demonstration of live cell imaging of mechanical tension across Nesprin-2G, a protein in the nuclear LINC complex, was outlined above. Prior to this work, various techniques, such as micropipette aspiration, magnetic-bead cytometry, and microscopic laser-ablation, have been used to apply strain on the cell nucleus and to measure its bulk material properties16,17,18. However, until our recent work, no stud...

Force-sensitive, genetically encoded FRET sensors have recently emerged as an important tool for measuring tensile-based forces in live cells, providing insight into how mechanical forces are applied across proteins1,2,3,4. With these tools, researchers can non-invasively image intracellular forces in living cells using conventional fluorescent microscopes. These sensors consist of a FRET-pair (donor and acceptor fluorescent proteins, most frequently a blue donor and yellow acceptor) separated by an elastic peptide3. In contrast to C- or N-terminal tagging, this sensor is inserted into an internal site of a protein to measure the mechanical force transmitted across the protein, behaving as a molecular strain gauge. Increased mechanical tension across the sensor results in an increased distance between the FRET-pair, resulting in decreased FRET3. As a result, the FRET is inversely related to tensile force.
These fluorescent-based sensors have been developed for focal adhesion proteins (vinculin3 and talin4), cytoskeletal proteins (&#945;-actinin5), and cell-cell junction proteins (E-Cadherin6,7, VE-Cadherin8, and PECAM8). The most frequently used and well-characterized elastic linker in these biosensors is known as TSmod and consists of a repetitive sequence of 40 amino acids, (GPGGA)8, which was derived from the spider silk protein flagelliform. TSmod has been shown to behave as a linear elastic nano-spring, with FRET responsiveness to 1 to 5 pN of tensile force3. Different lengths of flagelliform can be used to alter the dynamic range of TSmod FRET-force sensitivity9. In addition to flagelliform, spectrin repeats5 and villin headpiece peptide (known as HP35)4 have been used as the elastic peptides between FRET-pairs in similar force biosensors4. Finally, a recent report showed that TSmod can also be used to detect compressive forces10.
We recently developed a force sensor for the linker of the nucleo-cytoskeleton (LINC) complex protein Nesprin-2G by using TSmod inserted into a previously developed truncated Nesprin-2G protein known as mini-Nesprin2G (Figure 2C), which behaves similarly to endogenous Nesprin-2G11. The LINC complex contains multiple proteins that lead from the outside to the inside of the nucleus, linking the cytoplasmic cytoskeleton to the nuclear lamina. Nesprin-2G is a structural protein binding to both the actin cytoskeleton in the cytoplasm and to SUN proteins in the perinuclear space. Using our biosensor, we were able to show that Nesprin-2G is subject to actomyosin-dependent tension in NIH3T3 fibroblasts2. This was the first time that force was directly measured across a protein in the nuclear LINC complex, and it is likely to become an important tool to understand the role of force on the nucleus in mechanobiology.
The protocol below provides a detailed methodology of how to use the Nesprin-2G force sensor, including the expression of the Nesprin tension sensor (Nesprin-TS) in mammalian cells, as well as the acquisition and analysis of FRET images of cells expressing Nesprin-TS. Using an inverted confocal microscope equipped with a spectral detector, a description of how to measure sensitized emission FRET using spectral unmixing and ratiometric FRET imaging is provided. The output ratiometric images can be used to make relative quantitative force comparisons. While this protocol is focused on the expression of Nesprin-TS in fibroblasts, it is easily adaptable to other mammalian cells, including both cell lines and primary cells. Furthermore, this protocol as it relates to image acquisition and FRET analysis can readily be adapted to other FRET-based force biosensors that have been developed for other proteins.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1183">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Nesprin-TS DNA</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Addgene</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">68127</td>
			<td style="width:475px;">Retrieve from https://www.addgene.org/68127/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Nesprin-HL DNA</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Addgene</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">68128</td>
			<td>Retrieve from https://www.addgene.org/68128/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">mTFP1 DNA</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Addgene</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">54613</td>
			<td>Retrieve from https://www.addgene.org/54613/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">mVenus DNA</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Addgene</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">27793</td>
			<td>Retrieve from https://www.addgene.org/27793/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">TSmod DNA</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Addgene</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">26021</td>
			<td>Retrieve from https://www.addgene.org/26021/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Competent Cells</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Bioline</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BIO-85026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Liquid LB Media</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">10855001</td>
			<td>https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/10855001</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Solid LB Bacterial Culture Plates</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">L5667</td>
			<td>http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sigma/l5667?lang=en&#38;region=US</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Ampicillin</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A9518</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Biorad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">273 BR 07335</td>
			<td>SmartSpec Plus</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">quartz cuvette</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Biorad</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">1702504</td>
			<td>Cuvette for SmartSpec Plus</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">&#160;DNA isolation kit</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Macherey-Nagel</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">740412.5</td>
			<td>NucleoBond Xtra Midi Plus</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">6-well cell culture dish</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Falcon-Corning</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">353046</td>
			<td>Multiwell 6-well Polystrene Culture Dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium, (DMEM) cell media</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11995-065</td>
			<td>DMEM(1x)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">&#160;Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>16170-078</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">reduced serum cell media</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">31985-070</td>
			<td>Reduced Serum Medium, &#34;optimem&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Lipid Carrier Solution</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11668-019</td>
			<td>Lipid Reagent, &#34;Lipofectamine 2000&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">1.5mL sterile plastic tube</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Denville</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">c2170</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Trypsin</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25200-056</td>
			<td>0.25% Trypsin-EDTA (1x)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">glass-bottom microscope viewing dish</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">In Vitro Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D35-20-1.5-N</td>
			<td>35mm Dish with 20mm Bottom Well #1.5 glass</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Fibronectin</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">33016015</td>
			<td>fibronectin human protein,plasma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14190-144</td>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Phosphate Buffered Saline</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">15mL sterile centrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Greiner bio-one</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">188261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">swinging rotor centrifuge&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Thermo electron</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Centra CL2</td>
			<td>Swinging rotor thermo electron 236</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">cell culture biosafety hood</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Forma Scientific</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">1284</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">&#160;climate controlled cell culture incubator</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">3596</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">inverted LED widefield fluorescent microscope</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EVOS FL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">Clear HEPES buffered imaging media</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Molecular Probes</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A14291DJ</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">Fetal bovine Serum</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10437-028</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:483px;">Temperature Controlled-Inverted confocal w/458 and 515nm laser sources&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">&#160;LSM 710-w/spectral META detector</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:483px;">Outgrowth Media</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">Newengland Biolabs</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">B9020s</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:483px;">NIH 3T3 Fibroblasts</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">CRL-1658</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a protocol for using f&#246;rster resonance energy transfer (fret)-force biosensors to measure mechanical forces across the nuclear linc complex

The LINC complex has been hypothesized to be the critical structure that mediates the transfer of mechanical forces from the cytoskeleton to the nucleus. Nesprin-2G is a key component of the LINC complex that connects the actin cytoskeleton to membrane proteins (SUN domain proteins) in the perinuclear space. These membrane proteins connect to lamins inside the nucleus. Recently, a F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force probe was cloned into mini-Nesprin-2G (Nesprin-TS (tension sensor)) and used to measure tension across Nesprin-2G in live NIH3T3 fibroblasts. This paper describes the process of using Nesprin-TS to measure LINC complex forces in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. To extract FRET information from Nesprin-TS, an outline of how to spectrally unmix raw spectral images into acceptor and donor fluorescent channels is also presented. Using open-source software (ImageJ), images are pre-processed and transformed into ratiometric images. Finally, FRET data of Nesprin-TS is presented, along with strategies for how to compare data across different experimental groups.

Following the protocol above, plasmid DNA was acquired from the DNA repository and transformed into E. coli cells. E. coli expressing the sensor DNA were selected from LB/Ampicillin plates and amplified in a liquid LB broth. Following the amplification of the vectors, DNA plasmids were purified into TRIS-EDTA buffer using a standard, commercially available DNA isolation kit. Using a spectrophotometer, purified DNA was quantified into a standard concentration of &#181;g/m...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Protocol for Using FÃ¶rster Resonance Energy Transfer FRET-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex at JoVE.com

A Protocol for Using F&amp;#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex

A number of FRET-based force biosensors have recently been developed, enabling the protein-specific resolution of intracellular force. In this protocol, we demonstrate how one of these sensors, designed for the linker of the nucleoskeleton-cytoskeleton (LINC) complex protein Nesprin-2G can be used to measure actomyosin forces on the nuclear LINC complex.

A Protocol for Using F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex

The LINC complex has been hypothesized to be the critical structure that mediates the transfer of mechanical forces from the cytoskeleton to the nucleus. ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to determine forces on the linker of the nucleoskeleton cytoskeleton, or LINC complex, through FRET microscopy in living cells via a biosensor designed for the LINC complex protein, nesprin-2G. This method can help answer keys questions in the field of mechanotransduction, such as the forces placed on proteins in the nucleus of living cells, and how these forces change under variant conditions. The main advantage of this technique is its ability to measure very small levels of force on proteins and living cells.Generally, individuals new to this method will struggle with capturing images. Optimizing the microscope laser power and gain to receive a good signal between all experimental groups is difficult. To begin, grow NIH 3T3 fiber blast cells to between 70%and 90%confluence in a six-well cell culture dish in a standard cell culture incubator with temperature and CO2 regulation.In a cell culture hood, remove the medium and rinse each well with approximately 1 milliliter of a reduced serum cell medium. Add 800 microliters of reduced serum cell medium to each well, and place the six-well chamber in the incubator. Then, pipette 700 microliters of reduced serum cell medium into a 1.5 milliliter tube labeled L with 35 microliters of lipid carrier solution to form the lipo mix.Mix the suspension by pipetting. Next, pipette 100 microliters of the reduced serum cell medium into each of six 1.5 milliliter tubes labeled one through six. Pipette the plasma DNA for nesprin tension sensor, nesprin headless zero force control, mTFP1, and venus into tubes one through six, as described in the text protocol.Do not reuse pipette tips when pipetting different types of DNA. Then, pipette 100 microliters of the lipo mix from the L tube into each labeled tube, and mix by repeated pipetting, using a clean pipette for each tube. Incubate the suspension for 10 to 20 minutes.Next, add 200 microliters from each labeled tube to a well of the prepared six-well chamber containing cells. Label the top of each well with the corresponding DNA added. Then, place the six-well chamber in an incubator for four to six hours.Following incubation, aspirate the medium, and add one to two milliliters of reduced serum cell medium to rinse. Aspirate the reduced serum cell medium, and add two milliliters of trypsin to each well before placing the six-well dish in the incubator for five to 15 minutes. While the cells detach in the incubator, coat six glass-bottom viewing dishes with a layer of fibronectin at a concentration of 20 micrograms per milliliter dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline.Allow the dishes to coat the surface in the cell culture hood. Neutralize the trypsin by adding two milliliters of DMEM once the cells are detached. Then, transfer the contents of each well to a labeled 15 milliliter centrifuge tube and spin down at 90 times g for five minutes in a swinging rotor centrifuge.Aspirate the supernatant and re-suspend each cell pellet in 1, 000 microliters of DMEM using a pipette. Aspirate the fibronectin mixture from the glass dishes and pipette 1, 000 microliters of each cell suspension onto the dishes. After the cells settle to the bottom of the glass dishes, add another one milliliter of media to each well.Allow the cells to attach and express sensor in the cell incubator for at least 18 to 24 hours. To verify the transfection efficiency, use a fluorescent microscope equipped with an excitation frequency near 462 nanometers for mTFP1, or 525 nanometers for venus. Use an emission filter centered near 492 nanometers for mTFP1, or 525 nanometers for venus.Roughly 18 to 24 hours after completing the transfection, use an inverted fluorescent microscope to examine the efficiency of transfection by comparing the number of fluorescent cells to the total number of cells in view. If live cells cannot be imaged within 48 hours after transfection, fix the cells in 4%paraformaldehyde for five minutes. Allow cells to express sensor for 24 to 48 hours before fixation.Store the cells in PBS and view after 48 hours. In a cell culture hood, replace the cell medium with imaging medium supplemented with 10%fetal bovine serum. Place the viewing dishes in a temperature controlled confocal microscope stage.Place the glass viewing dish with mTFP1 transfected cells over the oil objective at 60X magnification with a numerical aperture of 1.4. Locate mTFP1-expressing cells in widefield fluorescent mode. With a fluorescent cell in the field of view, select the spectral detection mode and capture the spectral image.Include all frequencies beyond 458 nanometers using 10 nanometer increments. Select a bright fluorescent region on the cell. Add the fluorescent ROI mean as the normalized intensity to the spectral database by clicking Save Spectra to Database.Optimize the laser power and gain such that a good signal to noise ratio is achieved. Settings will vary for different equipment. Repeat the process for venus-expressing cells and remain in spectral mode.Use an excitation frequency of 488 nanometers instead of 458 nanometers. Adjust the power settings as needed, but do not change the emission frequencies. Select a bright fluorescent ROI of around a 20-pixel radius.Add the fluorescent ROI mean as the normalized intensity to the spectral database, by clicking Save Spectra to Database. To capture the unmixed images, first switch the capturing mode to spectral unmixing. Add the spectral fingerprints of venus and mTFP1 to the unmixing channels.Set the excitation laser back to a 458 nanometer argon source. Place the nesprin tension sensor viewing dish above the 60X oil objective. After focusing on a fluorescent cell with sufficiently bright expression, adjust the gain and laser power to optimize the signal to noise ratio.Capture a minimum of 15 to 20 images of nesprin tension sensor cells with relatively similar brightness and avoid excessive pixel saturation. Repeat the image capturing process with nesprin headless cells using identical imaging parameters. A representative 10X magnified image of 3T3 fibroblasts transfected with nesprin tension sensor using a lipid mediated carrier is shown here.Typically, only a fraction of cells are transfected in a given field of view. Shown here is a representative pair of two 3T3 nuclei expressing nesprin-TS in the spectrally unmixed venus and mTFP channels. A merged color image of the two channels is shown in the far right panel.Here is a representative sampling of nesprin-TS masked nuclei from stable expressing MDCK cells on patterned and unpatterned substrates. Ratio images are defined as the ratio of the venus channel divided by the mTFP channel and can be used to make relative quantitative force comparisons. Once mastered, this technique can be done in about eight hours if it's performed properly.While attempting this procedure, it's important to remember to carefully label DNA tubes during the transfection, and keep the imaging parameters constant while capturing spectrally result images. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to transfect cells with the nesprin tension sensor and capture spectrally resolved images to computer FRET index that correlates with force on the tension sensor. Though in this case, a FRET sensor is used for nesprin, it can also be applied to other proteins in the cell where measuring force is desired.

a-protocol-for-using-forster-resonance-energy-transfer-fret-force

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

10.4K vistas.  Virginia Commonwealth University. The overall goal of this procedure is to determine forces on the linker of the nucleoskeleton cytoskeleton, or LINC complex, through FRET microscopy in living cells via a biosensor designed for the LINC complex protein, nesprin-2G. This method can help answer keys questions in the field of mechanotransduction, such as the forces placed on proteins in the nucleus of living cells, and how these forces change under variant conditions. The main advantage of this technique is its ability to measur...

Video: A Protocol for Using F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex