Investigating Single Molecule Adhesion by Atomic Force Spectroscopy

Atomic force spectroscopy is an ideal tool to study molecules at surfaces and interfaces. An experimental protocol to couple a large variety of single ...

Technische Universität München

The cell surface receptor integrin is involved in signaling mechanical stresses via the focal adhesion complex (FAC) into the cell. Within FAC, the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Pyk2 are believed to act as important scaffolding proteins. Based on the knowledge that many signal transducing molecules are transiently immobilized within FAC connecting the cytoskeleton with integrins, we applied magnetic tweezer and atomic force microscopic measurements to determine the influence of FAK and Pyk2 in cells mechanically. Using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF; FAK(+/+), FAK(-/-), and siRNA-Pyk2 treated FAK(-/-) cells) provided a unique opportunity to describe the function of FAK and Pyk2 in more detail and to define their influence on FAC and actin distribution.

The influence of Pyk2 on the mechanical properties in fibroblasts.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a central focal adhesion protein that promotes focal adhesion turnover, but the role of FAK for cell mechanical stability is unknown. We measured the mechanical properties of wild-type (FAKwt), FAK-deficient (FAK-/-), FAK-silenced (siFAK), and siControl mouse embryonic fibroblasts by magnetic tweezer, atomic force microscopy, traction microscopy, and nanoscale particle tracking microrheology. FAK-deficient cells showed lower cell stiffness, reduced adhesion strength, and increased cytoskeletal dynamics compared to wild-type cells. These observations imply a reduced stability of the cytoskeleton in FAK-deficient cells. We attribute the reduced cytoskeletal stability to rho-kinase activation in FAK-deficient cells that suppresses the formation of ordered stress fiber bundles, enhances cortical actin distribution, and reduces cell spreading. In agreement with this interpretation is that cell stiffness and cytoskeletal stability in FAK-/- cells is partially restored to wild-type level after rho-kinase inhibition with Y27632.

Focal adhesion kinase stabilizes the cytoskeleton.

The hydrophobic attraction (HA) is believed to be one of the main driving forces for protein folding. Understanding its temperature dependence promises a deeper understanding of protein folding. Herein, we present an approach to investigate the HA with a combined experimental and simulation approach, which is complementary to previous studies on the temperature dependence of the solvation of small hydrophobic spherical particles. We determine the temperature dependence of the free-energy change and detachment length upon desorption of single polypeptides from hydrophobic substrates in aqueous environment. Both the atomic force microscopy (AFM) based experiments and the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show only a weak dependence of the free energy change on temperature. In fact, depending on the substrate, we find a maximum or a minimum in the temperature-dependent free energy change, meaning that the entropy increases or decreases with temperature for different substrates. These observations are in contrast to the solvation of small hydrophobic particles and can be rationalized by a compensation mechanism between the various contributions to the desorption force. On the one hand this is reminiscent of the protein folding process, where large entropic and enthalpic contributions compensate each other to result in a small free energy difference between the folded and unfolded state. On the other hand, the protein folding process shows much stronger temperature dependence, pointing to a fundamental difference between protein folding and adsorption. Nevertheless such temperature dependent single molecule desorption studies open large possibilities to study equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes dominated by the hydrophobic attraction.

The effect of temperature on single-polypeptide adsorption.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) based single polymer force spectroscopy allows to detect the interaction (energy) between single polymers and interfaces in aqueous environment. We use this method to delineate the effect of ions, pH, co-solutes and temperature on the adhesion of biopolymers onto solid substrates.

Measuring the interaction between ions, biopolymers and interfaces--one polymer at a time.

Several applications require strong noncovalent adhesion of polymers to substrates. Graft and branched polymers have proven superior to linear polymers, but the molecular mechanism is still unclear. Here, this question is addressed on the single molecule level with an atomic force microscopy (AFM) based method. It is determined how the presence of side chains and their molecular architecture influence the adhesion and the mobility of polymers on solid substrates. Surprisingly, the adhesion of mobile polymers cannot significantly be improved by side chains or their architecture. Only for immobile polymers a significantly higher maximum rupture force for graft, bottle-brush, and branched polymers compared to linear chains is measured. Our results suggest that a combination of polymer architecture and strong molecular bonds is necessary to increase the polymer-surface contact area. An increased contact area together with intrachain cohesion (e.g., by entanglements) leads to improved polymer adhesion. These findings may prove useful for the design of stable polymer coatings.

Sandra Kienle

Physik-Department E22a,
IMETUM

Technische Universität München

Investigating Single Molecule Adhesion by Atomic Force Spectroscopy

Sandra Kienle

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Physik-Department E22a,IMETUM

Technische Universität München

Investigating Single Molecule Adhesion by Atomic Force Spectroscopy

Physik-Department E22a,
IMETUM