Name: analyzing cell surface adhesion remodeling in response to mechanical tension using magnetic beads
Uploaded: 2017-03-08T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 55 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads at JoVE.com

C.G. is supported by grants from the Agence National de la Recherche (ANR-13-JSV1-0008), from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (Marie Curie Career Integration n&#730;8304162) and from European Research Council (ERC) under European Union&#39;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (ERC Starting Grant n&#730;639300).

1. Ligand Conjugation to Magnetic Beads
Note: Ligand conjugation is performed using superparamagnetic tosyl-activated beads with a 2.8 &#956;m diameter (stock solution concentration 108 beads/mL, 30 mg beads/mL). The following protocol is based on samples of approximately 2 x 105 cells, which correspond to MRC-5 cells grown to 80% confluency in a 60 mm tissue culture plate. Adjust the volume of beads and reagents accordingly if using plates of different sizes or cells at different confluences. Use an amount of superparamagnetic beads in order to have 2 beads per cell. Therefore, 4 x 105 beads are needed for a 60 mm plate.
<ol>
	<li>Thoroughly resuspend the beads in the original vial by vortexing at least 30 s. Aliquot 40 &#181;L of the resuspended superparamagnetic beads (corresponding to 4 x 106 beads) to 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Place the tube on a magnetic separation stand in order to separate the magnetic beads from the solution. Discard the supernatant, remove tube from the magnetic separation stand and resuspend the beads in 1 mL 0.1 M Na-phosphate pH 7.4.
	<ol>
		<li>Repeat wash step twice with 1 mL 0.1 M Na-phosphate pH 7.4.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>After the final wash, resuspend the beads in 1 mL 0.1 M Na-Phosphate pH 7.4.</li>
	<li>Combine 100 &#956;g Bovine Fibronectin (FN) or any other cell adhesion receptor ligand to the 1 mL 0.1 M Na-phosphate pH 7.4 containing beads and mix by pipetting.</li>
	<li>Repeat previous steps by replacing FN or any other specific ligand with BSA, poly-D-lysine or apo-transferrin for negative controls.</li>
	<li>Optionally, for gel analysis, take a 10 &#956;L aliquot of ligand solution for analysis of crosslinking efficiency and mix with an appropriate volume of concentrated Laemmli Sample Buffer.</li>
	<li>Incubate beads with the ligand containing solution for 12-24 h at 37 &#176;C on a rotor.</li>
	<li>If bead aggregates appear after the reaction has occurred, sonicate (continuous 39 W power) for no more than 10-20 s.</li>
	<li>Isolate the beads using magnetic separation stand, aspirate the remaining solution and add 1 mL of PBS/0.2% BSA pH 7.6 solution. Incubate for 1 h on rotor at 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Wash beads using a magnet twice with 1 mL PBS/0.2% BSA pH 7.6. Resuspend beads in 1 mL PBS/0.2% BSA pH 7.6.</li>
	<li>Sonicate beads if aggregates appear for no more than 20-30 s.</li>
	<li>Optionally, remove a 10 &#956;L aliquot to analyze coupling efficiency by western blot (mix with an appropriate volume of concentrated Laemmli Sample Buffer).</li>
	<li>Proceed to cell assays or store beads at 4 &#176;C for up to 1 month.</li>
	<li>Optionally, run a SDS-PAGE gel and stain with Coomassie blue to analyze FN crosslinking to the magnetic beads.</li>
</ol>
2. Application of Tensional Forces on the Ligand-coated Beads Bound to Adhesion Receptors on the Dorsal Surface of Cells
<ol>
	<li>Culture adherent cells on 60 mm tissue culture dish in appropriate growth medium (usually DMEM 4.5 g/L D-glucose supplemented with FCS 10%) until reaching 80% confluency.</li>
	<li>Prepare non-denaturing non-ionic lysis buffer (20 mM Tris HCl pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM MgCl2, 0.1% NP-40) and chill microcentrifuge tubes.</li>
	<li>Pellet the ligand-coated beads from section 1.10 and resuspend in 1 mL PBS/0.2% BSA pH 7.6. Add 100 &#956;L of the ligand-coated beads solution to 5 mL of warm culture&#160;medium and vortex.</li>
	<li>Aspirate medium in 60 mm culture dish and add 5 mL warm growth medium supplemented with beads.&#160;</li>
	<li>Incubate for 20 min under cell culture conditions (37 &#176;C and 5% CO2) to allow the beads to sediment and adhere to the cells. It is crucial to not exceed 20 min since beads may be internalized by phagocytosis.</li>
	<li>Optionally, observe the beads under a light microscope using a 10X or 20X objective and check for bead adhesion by slightly shaking the dish to discriminate between attached and floating beads.</li>
	<li>While keeping the culture dish in the incubator, swap the normal dish lid for a lid with a round 38 mm neodymium magnet attached on the upper face. The magnet is held in place by two smaller 13 mm neodymium magnets positioned on the lower face of the lid. &#160;Since the magnets are very powerful, manipulate them carefully.</li>
	<li>Incubate cells subjected to tension for the desired time points at cell culture conditions (37 &#176;C and 5% CO2).&#160;</li>
	<li>After treatment, place dish on ice and carefully aspirate the entire medium from the dish.</li>
	<li>Add 300 &#956;L of cell lysis buffer, and incubate for 10 min on ice. Collect the lysate using a cell scraper and transfer to a pre-chilled 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube.</li>
	<li>Pellet the magnetic beads using the magnetic separation stand and transfer the total cell lysate to a new pre-chilled 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube. Store this fraction at -20 &#176;C for further analysis.</li>
	<li>Wash the beads 3 times with 1 mL ice-cold lysis buffer. Add 50 &#956;L Laemmli Sample buffer to the bead pellet, mix by pipetting and boil at 95 &#176;C for 5 min using a dry block heater. This fraction contains the isolated adhesion complexes. Proceed to biochemical analysis or store at -20 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>From the total cell lysate obtained after beads separation (about 300 &#956;L), remove a 50 &#956;L aliquot for western blot analysis. 
	NOTE: The 250 &#956;L left can be used for further biochemical studies such as protein-protein interaction studies (immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down assays) or GTPase activity experiments (changing the lysis buffer may be necessary depending on the GTPase of interest).</li>
</ol>

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

The method described here constitutes a straightforward approach to apply tension to cell surface adhesion receptors and allow their subsequent purification. However, some steps are critical to perform efficient adhesion purification and potential optimization can be done depending on the targeted adhesion receptors. We present potential issues the user may encounter below.
We used 2.8 &#956;m diameter magnetic beads but larger beads can be used such as 4.5 &#956;m diameter. However, bead diam...

In metazoa, mechanical tension directs tissue development and homeostasis through the regulation of a myriad of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and survival 1,2. Mechanical tension can arise from the extracellular matrix or can be generated by adherent cells, which sample their extracellular environment through the actomyosin contractile machinery that pulls onto extracellular matrix and probes its rigidity through tension-sensitive molecules. In response to tension, mechanosensitive adhesion proteins undergo conformational changes that trigger complex signaling cascades. In turn, these signaling pathways orchestrate a mechanoresponse encompassing proliferation, differentiation and survival that adjusts the cellular behavior to the extracellular environment. Such processes can be settled in a short-term time period (seconds to minutes) to quickly feed back onto the loop of mechanotransduction by modifying the mechanosensitive structures. For instance, integrin-based adhesions reinforce in response to tension through Rho GTPase-mediated cytoskeletal remodeling 3,4,5. In parallel, other signaling pathways are activated over hours and days to control genetic programs that eventually impact cell fate 6. Whereas, many studies have highlighted the effect of matrix stiffness on cell determinism and disease development 1,2 , the precise molecular mechanisms of adhesion-mediated mechanotransduction still remain elusive.
Various approaches have been developed to study the effects of cell-generated forces or external forces on cell behavior, including flow systems, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-tension sensors 7,8, compliant substrates 9, magnetic tweezers, optical tweezers 10 and atomic force microscopy (AFM) 11. Here we present a protocol using superparamagnetic beads to characterize mechanotransduction pathways in response to tensional forces applied to specific adhesion receptors. Superparamagnetic beads are particles that reversibly magnetize when placed in a magnetic field. Once coated with a ligand for a specific receptor, these beads provide a powerful tool to study the effects of extracellular force application. This method has been validated by several studies 3,5,12-17 and present the advantage to largely facilitate biochemical analysis on adherent cells. Using similar collagen-coated magnetic beads followed by biochemical analysis, early work reported an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation and RhoA activation in response to tension 5,18,19. The method described below has also been used with fibronectin (FN)-coated beads to characterize the signaling pathways downstream from tension applied to integrins 3. In this study, Guilluy et al. showed that tension activates RhoA through the recruitment of the two guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), LARG and GEF-H1, to integrin adhesion complexes. Since that, other studies have shown that GEF-H1 is recruited to adhesion complexes in response to cell-generated tension using different methods 20,21, demonstrating the robustness of the methodology described here. As a result, activated RhoA was shown to promote adhesion reinforcement, through cytoskeletal remodeling. This system was also used to explore tension applied to cell/cell adhesion receptors. Application of forces onto magnetic beads coated with the extracellular domain of E-cadherin induced an increase in vinculin recruitment similarly to integrin associated adhesion complexes 12. Collins and colleagues observed that application of tension to PECAM-1 promotes integrin and RhoA activation 13. Another experimental approach using magnetic beads is the study of tension applied to isolated nuclei. Using beads coated with antibodies against the nuclear envelope protein nesprin-1, nuclear envelope complexes were purified to show that they are dynamically regulated in response to mechanical tension 22. These results support the powerfulness of this method in the study of mechanotransduction pathways. Moreover, while flow or traction force systems stimulate general cellular processes, magnetic beads specifically target a cell adhesion receptor by using either receptor ligands 3 or monoclonal antibodies against cell surface receptor 13,15.
Another advantage of this method is the isolation of adhesion complexes through a straightforward ligand affinity purification procedure. It is well known that addition of ligand-coated beads to cells binds adhesion receptors and induces the recruitment of several adhesion proteins23. Further application of forces to ligand-coated magnetic beads turns these adhesion complexes into macromolecular platforms that mediates various tension-dependent signaling pathways4,24. Cell lysis followed by bead concentration using a magnet permits the isolation of the adhesion platforms. Other methods used to purify adhesion complexes have already been used in adherent cells. They combine chemical crosslinking to conserve protein-protein interactions and a cell lysis step by detergent and shear flow or sonication 20,21,25,26,27,28. The final step is the collection of the resulting ventral plasma membranes containing the adhesion complexes. Unlike these methods, magnetic beads allow a greater purification level of cell adhesion complexes by selectively targeting a specific family of adhesion receptors. Magnetic beads have already been used to purify adhesion complexes in non-adherent cells attached to ligand-coated microbeads29,30. The method described below mimics biological situations where force is applied for a short sustained period (seconds to minutes). Therefore, it provides a powerful tool for investigating both the molecular composition of purified adhesion complexes and the downstream mechanosensitive-signaling pathways.
Here we present a detailed experimental protocol for using magnetic beads to apply tensional forces to adhesion surface proteins. A permanent neodymium magnet is placed on top of the culture dish surface. The pole face of the magnet is placed at a height of 6 mm so that the force on a single 2.8 &#956;m magnetic bead is constant (about 30-40 pN)31. The duration of tension stimulation is determined by the operator depending on the molecule of interest and its time-scale of activation. Cells are finally lysed, adhesion complexes are purified by beads separation using a magnet and biochemical analyses are processed. This protocol includes the preparation of ligand-coated superparamagnetic beads, and the application of tension through magnet followed by biochemical analyses. Additionally, we provide a representative sample of data demonstrating that tension applied to integrin-based adhesions induces adhesion remodeling and alters protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Neodymium magnets (on the upper face of 60 mm dish)</td><td>K&amp;amp;J Magnetics, Inc</td><td>DX88-N52</td><td>grade N52 dimension: 1 1/2&quot; dia. x 1/2&quot; thick</td></tr><tr><td>Neodymium magnets (on the lower face of 60 mm dish)</td><td>K&amp;amp;J Magnetics, Inc</td><td>D84PC-BLK</td><td>grade N42 dimension: 1/2&quot; dia. x 1/4&quot; thick Black Plastic Coated&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dynabeads M280 Tosylactivated</td><td>Thermofisher</td><td>14203</td><td>superparamagnetic beads&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>DynaMag-2 Magnet</td><td>Thermofisher</td><td>12321D</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fibronectin&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>F1141-5MG</td><td>Fibronectin from bovine plasma</td></tr><tr><td>Poly-D-Lysine</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>P7280-5MG</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Apo-Transferrin</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>T1428-50MG</td><td>Bovine Apo-Transferrin</td></tr><tr><td>Bovine serum albumin</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>A7906-500G</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>DMEM high glucose, GlutaMAX supplement, pyruvate&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Life Technologies</td><td>31966-021</td><td>DMEM+GlutaMAX-I 500 ml&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>60*15 mm culture dish</td><td>Falcon</td><td>353004</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

analyzing cell surface adhesion remodeling in response to mechanical tension using magnetic beads

Mechanosensitive cell surface adhesion complexes allow cells to sense the mechanical properties of their surroundings. Recent studies have identified both force-sensing molecules at adhesion sites, and force-dependent transcription factors that regulate lineage-specific gene expression and drive phenotypic outputs. However, the signaling networks converting mechanical tension into biochemical pathways have remained elusive. To explore the signaling pathways engaged upon mechanical tension applied to cell surface receptor, superparamagnetic microbeads can be used. Here we present a protocol for using magnetic beads to apply forces to cell surface adhesion proteins. Using this approach, it is possible to investigate not only force-dependent cytoplasmic signaling pathways by various biochemical approaches, but also adhesion remodeling by magnetic isolation of adhesion complexes attached to the ligand-coated beads. This protocol includes the preparation of ligand-coated superparamagnetic beads, and the application of define tensile forces followed by biochemical analyses. Additionally, we provide a representative sample of data demonstrating that tension applied to integrin-based adhesion triggers adhesion remodeling and alters protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

The schematic of the technique is illustrated in Figure 1a. Following ligand conjugation, magnetic beads are incubated with cells for 20 min, and then a permanent magnet is used to apply tensile forces of about 30-40 pN for various amount of time. Figure 1b shows 2.8 &#181;m FN-coated magnetic beads bound to MRC5 cell adhesion receptors.
The wash steps of superparamagnetic beads after cell lysis are crucial and determine the degree of purification. A minimum o...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads at JoVE.com

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

Cell surface adhesions are central in mechanotransduction, as they transmit mechanical tension and initiate the signaling pathways involved in tissue homeostasis and development. Here, we present a protocol for dissecting the biochemical pathways that are activated in response to tension, using ligand-coated magnetic microbeads and force application to adhesion receptors.

Mechanosensitive cell surface adhesion complexes allow cells to sense the mechanical properties of their surroundings. Recent studies have identified both ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

8.4K Views.  Centre de recherche UGA - INSERM U1209 - CNRS UMR. Cell surface adhesions are central in mechanotransduction, as they transmit mechanical tension and initiate the signaling pathways involved in tissue homeostasis and development. Here, we present a protocol for dissecting the biochemical pathways that are activated in response to tension, using ligand-coated magnetic microbeads and force application to adhesion receptors.

Video: Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

Preparation of Complaint Matrices for Quantifying Cellular Contraction

The regulation of cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for cell migration and ECM remodeling. Focal adhesions are macromolecular assemblies that couple the contractile F-actin cytoskeleton to the ECM. This connection allows for the transmission of intracellular mechanical forces across the cell membrane to the underlying substrate. Recent work has shown the mechanical properties of the ECM regulate focal adhesion and F-actin morphology as well as numerous physiological processes, including cell differentiation, division, proliferation and migration. Thus, the use of cell culture substrates has become an increasingly prevalent method to precisely control and modulate ECM mechanical properties.
To quantify traction forces at focal adhesions in an adherent cell, compliant substrates are used in conjunction with high-resolution imaging and computational techniques in a method termed traction force microscopy (TFM). This technique relies on measurements of the local magnitude and direction of substrate deformations induced by cellular contraction. In combination with high-resolution fluorescence microscopy of fluorescently tagged proteins, it is possible to correlate cytoskeletal organization and remodeling with traction forces.
Here we present a detailed experimental protocol for the preparation of two-dimensional, compliant matrices for the purpose of creating a cell culture substrate with a well-characterized, tunable mechanical stiffness, which is suitable for measuring cellular contraction. These protocols include the fabrication of polyacrylamide hydrogels, coating of ECM proteins on such gels, plating cells on gels, and high-resolution confocal microscopy using a perfusion chamber. Additionally, we provide a representative sample of data demonstrating location and magnitude of cellular forces using cited TFM protocols.

In this video, we demonstrate the experimental techniques used to fabricate compliant, extracellular matrix (ECM) coated substrates suitable for cell culture, and which are amenable to traction force microscopy and observing effects of ECM stiffness on cell behavior.

The regulation of cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for cell migration and ECM remodeling.  Focal adhesions are ...

Bioengineering

Multiplexed Single-molecule Force Proteolysis Measurements Using Magnetic Tweezers

The generation and detection of mechanical forces is a ubiquitous aspect of cell physiology, with direct relevance to cancer metastasis1, atherogenesis2 and wound healing3. In each of these examples, cells both exert force on their surroundings and simultaneously enzymatically remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). The effect of forces on ECM has thus become an area of considerable interest due to its likely biological and medical importance4-7.
	Single molecule techniques such as optical trapping8, atomic force microscopy9, and magnetic tweezers10,11 allow researchers to probe the function of enzymes at a molecular level by exerting forces on individual proteins. Of these techniques, magnetic tweezers (MT) are notable for their low cost and high throughput. MT exert forces in the range of ~1-100 pN and can provide millisecond temporal resolution, qualities that are well matched to the study of enzyme mechanism at the single-molecule level12. Here we report a highly parallelizable MT assay to study the effect of force on the proteolysis of single protein molecules. We present the specific example of the proteolysis of a trimeric collagen peptide by matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1); however, this assay can be easily adapted to study other substrates and proteases.

In this article we describe the use of magnetic tweezers to study the effect of force on enzymatic proteolysis at the single molecule level in a highly parallelizable manner.

The  generation and detection of mechanical forces is a ubiquitous aspect of cell physiology,  with direct relevance to cancer metastasis1, atherogenesis2 ...

Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque

Single-molecule techniques make it possible to investigate the behavior of individual biological molecules in solution in real time. These techniques include so-called force spectroscopy approaches such as atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers, flow stretching, and magnetic tweezers. Amongst these approaches, magnetic tweezers have distinguished themselves by their ability to apply torque while maintaining a constant stretching force. Here, it is illustrated how such a &#8220;conventional&#8221; magnetic tweezers experimental configuration can, through a straightforward modification of its field configuration to minimize the magnitude of the transverse field, be adapted to measure the degree of twist in a biological molecule. The resulting configuration is termed the freely-orbiting magnetic tweezers. Additionally, it is shown how further modification of the field configuration can yield a transverse field with a magnitude intermediate between that of the &#8220;conventional&#8221; magnetic tweezers and the freely-orbiting magnetic tweezers, which makes it possible to directly measure the torque stored in a biological molecule. This configuration is termed the magnetic torque tweezers. The accompanying video explains in detail how the conversion of conventional magnetic tweezers into freely-orbiting magnetic tweezers and magnetic torque tweezers can be accomplished, and demonstrates the use of these techniques. These adaptations maintain all the strengths of conventional magnetic tweezers while greatly expanding the versatility of this powerful instrument.

Magnetic tweezers, a powerful single-molecule manipulation technique, can be adapted for the direct measurements of the twist (using a configuration called freely-orbiting magnetic tweezers) and torque (using a configuration termed magnetic torque tweezers) in biological macromolecules. Guidelines for performing such measurements are given, including applications to the study of DNA and associated nucleo-protein filaments.

Single-molecule techniques make it possible to investigate the behavior of individual biological molecules in solution in real time. These techniques ...

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Cell-cell adhesion is fundamental to multicellular life and is mediated by a diverse array of cell surface proteins. However, the adhesive interactions for many of these proteins are poorly understood. Here we present a simple, rapid method for characterizing the adhesive properties of putative homophilic cell adhesion molecules. Cultured HEK293 cells are transfected with DNA plasmid encoding a secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomain of a cell surface protein. Using functionalized beads specific for the epitope tag, the soluble, secreted fusion protein is captured from the culture medium. The coated beads can then be used directly in bead aggregation assays or in fluorescent bead sorting assays to test for homophilic adhesion. If desired, mutagenesis can then be used to elucidate the specific amino acids or domains required for adhesion. This assay requires only small amounts of expressed protein, does not require the production of stable cell lines, and can be accomplished in 4 days.

Here we present a simple, rapid method for characterizing the intrinsic adhesive properties of putative cell adhesion molecules. The secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomain of a cell adhesion molecule is captured from the culture medium on small, uniform functionalized beads. These beads can then be used immediately in simple bead aggregation assays.

Cell-cell adhesion is fundamental to multicellular life and is mediated by a diverse array of cell surface proteins. However, the adhesive interactions ...

A Novel Method for Localizing Reporter Fluorescent Beads Near the Cell Culture Surface for Traction Force Microscopy

PA gels have long been used as a platform to study cell traction forces due to ease of fabrication and the ability to tune their elastic properties. When the substrate is coated with an extracellular matrix protein, cells adhere to the gel and apply forces, causing the gel to deform. The deformation depends on the cell traction and the elastic properties of the gel. If the deformation field of the surface is known, surface traction can be calculated using elasticity theory. Gel deformation is commonly measured by embedding fluorescent marker beads uniformly into the gel. The probes displace as the gel deforms. The probes near the surface of the gel are tracked. The displacements reported by these probes are considered as surface displacements. Their depths from the surface are ignored. This assumption introduces error in traction force evaluations. For precise measurement of cell forces, it is critical for the location of the beads to be known. We have developed a technique that utilizes simple chemistry to confine fluorescent marker beads, 0.1 and 1 &#181;m in diameter, in PA gels, within 1.6 &#956;m of the surface. We coat a coverslip with poly-D-lysine (PDL) and fluorescent beads. PA gel solution is then sandwiched between the coverslip and an adherent surface. The fluorescent beads transfer to the gel solution during curing. After polymerization, the PA gel contains fluorescent beads on a plane close to the gel surface.

Traditional techniques for fabricating polyacrylamide (PA) gels containing fluorescent probes involve sandwiching a gel between an adherent surface and a glass slide. Here, we show that coating this slide with poly-D-lysine (PDL) and fluorescent probes localizes the probes to within 1.6 &#181;m from the gel surface.

PA gels have long been used as a platform to study cell traction forces due to ease of fabrication and the ability to tune their elastic properties. When ...

Magnetic Tweezers in a Microplate Format

Mechanobiology describes how the physical forces and mechanical properties of biological material contribute to physiology and disease. Typically, these approaches are limited single-molecule methods, which restricts their availability. To address this need, a microplate assay was developed that enables mechanical manipulation while performing standard biochemical assays. This is achieved using magnets incorporated into a microplate lid to create multiple magnetic tweezers. In this format, force is exerted across biomolecules connected to paramagnetic beads, equivalent to a typical magnetic tweezer. The study demonstrates the application of this tool with FRET-based assays to monitor protein conformations. However, this approach is widely applicable to different biological systems ranging from measuring enzymatic activity through to the activation of signaling pathways in live cells.

Here, we describe the use of a novel microplate assay to enable mechanical manipulation of biomolecules while performing ensemble biochemical assays. This is achieved using a microplate lid modified with magnets to create multiple static magnetic tweezers across the microplate.

Mechanobiology describes how the physical forces and mechanical properties of biological material contribute to physiology and disease. Typically, these ...

Biochemistry

High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements

Single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MTs) have served as powerful tools to forcefully interrogate biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and are therefore poised to be useful in the field of mechanobiology. Since the method commonly relies on image-based tracking of magnetic beads, the speed limit in recording and analyzing images, as well as the thermal fluctuations of the beads, has long hampered its application in observing small and fast structural changes in target molecules. This article describes detailed methods for the construction and operation of a high-resolution MT setup that can resolve nanoscale, millisecond dynamics of biomolecules and their complexes. As application examples, experiments with DNA hairpins and SNARE complexes (membrane-fusion machinery) are demonstrated, focusing on how their transient states and transitions can be detected in the presence of piconewton-scale forces. We expect that high-speed MTs will continue to enable high-precision nanomechanical measurements on molecules that sense, transmit, and generate forces in cells, and thereby deepen our molecular-level understanding of mechanobiology.

Here, we describe a high-speed magnetic tweezer setup that performs nanomechanical measurements on force-sensitive biomolecules at the maximum rate of 1.2 kHz. We introduce its application to DNA hairpins and SNARE complexes as model systems, but it will be also applicable to other molecules involved in mechanobiological events.

Single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MTs) have served as powerful tools to forcefully interrogate biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and are ...

In Vivo Mechanotransduction Study Using Magnetic Beads in the Zebrafish Heart

Manipulating Mechanical Forces in the Developing Zebrafish Heart Using Magnetic Beads

Mechanical forces continuously provide feedback to heart valve morphogenetic programs. In zebrafish, cardiac valve development relies on heart contraction and physical stimuli generated by the beating heart. Intracardiac hemodynamics, driven by blood flow, emerge as fundamental information shaping the development of the embryonic heart. Here, we describe an effective method to manipulate mechanical forces in vivo by grafting a 30 &#181;m to 60 &#181;m diameter magnetic bead in the cardiac lumen. The insertion of the bead is conducted through microsurgery in anesthetized larvae without perturbing heart function and enables artificial alteration of the boundary conditions, thereby modifying flow forces in the system. As a result, the presence of the bead amplifies the mechanical forces experienced by endocardial cells and can directly trigger mechanical stimulus-dependent calcium influx. This approach facilitates the investigation of mechanotransduction pathways that govern heart development and can provide insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiac valve morphogenesis.

Author Spotlight: Understanding Mechanical Forces Involved in Shaping the Zebrafish Heart

This protocol outlines a method for grafting a magnetic bead into the developing zebrafish heart through microsurgery, enabling the manipulation of mechanical forces in vivo and triggering mechanical stimulus-dependent calcium influx in endocardial cells.

Mechanical forces continuously provide feedback to heart valve morphogenetic programs. In zebrafish, cardiac valve development relies on heart contraction ...

Developmental Biology

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy

Traction force microscopy (TFM) is the main method used in mechanobiology to measure cell forces. Commonly this is being used for cells adhering to flat soft substrates that deform under cell traction (2D-TFM). TFM relies on the use of linear elastic materials, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyacrylamide (PA). For 2D-TFM on PA, the difficulty in achieving high throughput results mainly from the large variability of cell shapes and tractions, calling for standardization. We present a protocol to rapidly and efficiently fabricate micropatterned PA hydrogels for 2D-TFM studies. The micropatterns are first created by maskless photolithography using near-UV light where extracellular matrix proteins bind only to the micropatterned regions, while the rest of the surface remains non-adhesive for cells. The micropatterning of extracellular matrix proteins is due to the presence of active aldehyde groups, resulting in adhesive regions of different shapes to accommodate either single cells or groups of cells. For TFM measurements, we use PA hydrogels of different elasticity by varying the amounts of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide and tracking the displacement of embedded fluorescent beads to reconstruct cell traction fields with regularized Fourier Transform Traction Cytometry (FTTC).
To further achieve precise recording of cell forces, we describe the use of a controlled dose of patterned light to release cell tractions in defined regions for single cells or groups of cells. We call this method local UV illumination traction force microscopy (LUVI-TFM). With enzymatic treatment, all cells are detached from the sample simultaneously, whereas with LUVI-TFM traction forces of cells in different regions of the sample can be recorded in sequence. We demonstrate the applicability of this protocol (i) to study cell traction forces as a function of controlled adhesion to the substrate, and (ii) to achieve a greater number of experimental observations from the same sample.

Near-UV lithography and traction force microscopy are combined to measure cellular forces on micropatterned hydrogels. The targeted light-induced release of single cells enables a high number of measurements on the same sample.

Traction force microscopy (TFM) is the main method used in mechanobiology to measure cell forces. Commonly this is being used for cells adhering to flat ...

Imaging Molecular Adhesion in Cell Rolling by Adhesion Footprint Assay

Rolling adhesion, facilitated by selectin-mediated interactions, is a highly dynamic, passive motility in recruiting leukocytes to the site of inflammation. This phenomenon occurs in postcapillary venules, where blood flow pushes leukocytes in a rolling motion on the endothelial cells. Stable rolling requires a delicate balance between adhesion bond formation and their mechanically-driven dissociation, allowing the cell to remain attached to the surface while rolling in the direction of flow. Unlike other adhesion processes occurring in relatively static environments, rolling adhesion is highly dynamic as the rolling cells travel over thousands of microns at tens of microns per second. Consequently, conventional mechanobiology methods such as traction force microscopy are unsuitable for measuring the individual adhesion events and the associated molecular forces due to the short timescale and high sensitivity required. Here, we describe our latest implementation of the adhesion footprint assay to image the P-selectin: PSGL-1 interactions in rolling adhesion at the molecular level. This method utilizes irreversible DNA-based tension gauge tethers to produce a permanent history of molecular adhesion events in the form of fluorescence tracks. These tracks can be imaged in two ways: (1) stitching together thousands of diffraction-limited images to produce a large field of view, enabling the extraction of adhesion footprint of each rolling cell over thousands of microns in length, (2) performing DNA-PAINT to reconstruct super-resolution images of the fluorescence tracks within a small field of view. In this study, the adhesion footprint assay was used to study HL-60 cells rolling at different shear stresses. In doing so, we were able to image the spatial distribution of the P-selectin: PSGL-1 interaction and gain insight into their molecular forces through fluorescence intensity. Thus, this method provides the groundwork for the quantitative investigation of the various cell-surface interactions involved in rolling adhesion at the molecular level.

This protocol presents the experimental procedures to perform the adhesion footprint assay to image the adhesion events during fast cell rolling adhesion.