Name: the mechanics of (poro-)elastic contractile actomyosin networks as a model system of the cell cytoskeleton
Uploaded: 2023-03-10T12:45:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton at JoVE.com

We would like to thank Dina Aranovich for protein purification and labelling. G.L. is grateful to the Israel Ministry of Science, Technology and Space for the Jabotinsky PhD Scholarship. A.B.G. is grateful to the Israel Science Foundation (grant 2101/20) and to the Ministry of Science and Technology - State of Israel (grant 3-17491) for financial support.

1. Glass surface treatment and passivation:
NOTE: This section includes three major steps (see Figure 1): (i) cleaning and hydrophilization, (ii) silanization, and (iii) surface passivation.
<ol>
	<li>Cleaning and hydrophilization
	<ol>
		<li>Use Piranha solution for glass surface cleaning. 
		NOTE: Piranha solution is a mixture of 30% H2O2 and 70% H2SO4 (Table of Materials). Its prime goal is to ...

<ol>
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R., Kroy, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+bottom-up+approach+to+cell+mechanics.">A bottom-up approach to cell mechanics.</a> Nature Physics. 2 (4), 231-238 (2006).</li><li>Moeendarbary, E., 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=The+cytoplasm+of+living+cells+behaves+as+a+poroelastic+material.">The cytoplasm of living cells behaves as a poroelastic material.</a> Nature Materials. 12 (3), 253-261 (2013).</li><li>Charras, G. T., Mitchison, T. J., Mahadevan, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Animal+cell+hydraulics.">Animal cell hydraulics.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 122 (18), 3233-3241 (2009).</li><li>Charras, G. T., Yarrow, J. C., Horton, M. 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A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracellular+fluid+flow+in+rapidly+moving+cells.">Intracellular fluid flow in rapidly moving cells.</a> Nature Cell Biology. 11 (10), 1219-1224 (2009).</li><li>Paluch, E., Piel, M., Prost, J., Bornens, M., Sykes, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cortical+actomyosin+breakage+triggers+shape+oscillations+in+cells+and+cell+fragments.">Cortical actomyosin breakage triggers shape oscillations in cells and cell fragments.</a> Biophysical Journal. 89 (1), 724-733 (2005).</li><li>Liu, A. P., Fletcher, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biology+under+construction:+In+vitro+reconstitution+of+cellular+function.">Biology under construction: In vitro reconstitution of cellular function.</a> Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 10 (9), 644-650 (2009).</li><li>Siton-Mendelson, O., Bernheim-Groswasser, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toward+the+reconstitution+of+synthetic+cell+motility.">Toward the reconstitution of synthetic cell motility.</a> Cell Adhesion &amp; Migration. 10 (5), 461-474 (2016).</li><li>Bernheim-Groswasser, A., Wiesner, S., Golsteyn, R. M., Carlier, M. -. F., Sykes, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+dynamics+of+actin-based+motility+depend+on+surface+parameters.">The dynamics of actin-based motility depend on surface parameters.</a> Nature. 417 (6886), 308-311 (2002).</li><li>Bieling, 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=Force+feedback+controls+motor+activity+and+mechanical+properties+of+self-assembling+branched+actin+networks.">Force feedback controls motor activity and mechanical properties of self-assembling branched actin networks.</a> Cell. 164 (1-2), 115-127 (2016).</li><li>Carvalho, 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=Actin+polymerization+or+myosin+contraction:+two+ways+to+build+up+cortical+tension+for+symmetry+breaking.">Actin polymerization or myosin contraction: two ways to build up cortical tension for symmetry breaking.</a> Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 368 (1629), 20130005 (2013).</li><li>Dayel, M. J., 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=In+silico+reconstitution+of+actin-based+symmetry+breaking+and+motility.">In silico reconstitution of actin-based symmetry breaking and motility.</a> PLoS Biology. 7 (9), e1000201 (2009).</li><li>Manhart, A., 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=Quantitative+regulation+of+the+dynamic+steady+state+of+actin+networks.">Quantitative regulation of the dynamic steady state of actin networks.</a> eLife. 8, 42413 (2019).</li><li>Siton, O., 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=Cortactin+releases+the+brakes+in+actin-based+motility+by+enhancing+WASP-VCA+detachment+from+Arp2/3+branches.">Cortactin releases the brakes in actin-based motility by enhancing WASP-VCA detachment from Arp2/3 branches.</a> Current Biology. 21 (24), 2092-2097 (2011).</li><li>Pontani, L. -. L., 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=Reconstitution+of+an+actin+cortex+inside+a+liposome.">Reconstitution of an actin cortex inside a liposome.</a> Biophysical Journal. 96 (1), 192-198 (2009).</li><li>Ideses, Y., Sonn-Segev, A., Roichman, Y., Bernheim-Groswasser, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myosin+II+does+it+all:+Assembly,+remodeling,+and+disassembly+of+actin+networks+are+governed+by+myosin+II+activity.">Myosin II does it all: Assembly, remodeling, and disassembly of actin networks are governed by myosin II activity.</a> Soft Matter. 9 (29), 7127-7137 (2013).</li><li>Backouche, F., Haviv, L., Groswasser, D., Bernheim-Groswasser, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Active+gels:+Dynamics+of+patterning+and+self-organization.">Active gels: Dynamics of patterning and self-organization.</a> Physical Biology. 3 (4), 264 (2006).</li><li>Alvarado, J., Sheinman, M., Sharma, A., MacKintosh, F. C., Koenderink, G. 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A., Watt, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+regulation+of+rabbit+skeletal+muscle+contraction:+I.+Biochemical+studies+of+the+interaction+of+the+tropomyosin-troponin+complex+with+actin+and+the+proteolytic+fragments+of+myosin.">The regulation of rabbit skeletal muscle contraction: I. Biochemical studies of the interaction of the tropomyosin-troponin complex with actin and the proteolytic fragments of myosin.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 246 (15), 4866-4871 (1971).</li><li>Ono, S., 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=Identification+of+an+actin+binding+region+and+a+protein+kinase+C+phosphorylation+site+on+human+fascin.">Identification of an actin binding region and a protein kinase C phosphorylation site on human fascin.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 272 (4), 2527-2533 (1997).</li><li>Margossian, S. S., Lowey, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+myosin+and+its+subfragments+from+rabbit+skeletal+muscle.">Preparation of myosin and its subfragments from rabbit skeletal muscle.</a> In Methods in Enzymology. 85, 55-71 (1982).</li><li>Quinlan, M. E., Forkey, J. N., Goldman, Y. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Orientation+of+the+myosin+light+chain+region+by+single+molecule+total+internal+reflection+fluorescence+polarization+microscopy.">Orientation of the myosin light chain region by single molecule total internal reflection fluorescence polarization microscopy.</a> Biophysical Journal. 89 (2), 1132-1142 (2005).</li><li>Cheng, N. -. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Formula+for+the+viscosity+of+a+glycerol&#8722;water+mixture.">Formula for the viscosity of a glycerol&#8722;water mixture.</a> Industrial &amp; Engineering Chemistry Research. 47 (9), 3285-3288 (2008).</li><li>Marsh, D., Bartucci, R., Sportelli, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lipid+membranes+with+grafted+polymers:+Physicochemical+aspects.">Lipid membranes with grafted polymers: Physicochemical aspects.</a> Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes. 1615 (1-2), 33-59 (2003).</li><li>Strychalski, W., Guy, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracellular+pressure+dynamics+in+blebbing+cells.">Intracellular pressure dynamics in blebbing cells.</a> Biophysical Journal. 110 (5), 1168-1179 (2016).</li><li>Head, D. A., Levine, A. J., MacKintosh, F. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distinct+regimes+of+elastic+response+and+deformation+modes+of+crosslinked+cytoskeletal+and+semiflexible+polymer+networks.">Distinct regimes of elastic response and deformation modes of crosslinked cytoskeletal and semiflexible polymer networks.</a> Physical Review E. 68 (6), 061907 (2003).</li><li>MacKintosh, F. C., Levine, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nonequilibrium+mechanics+and+dynamics+of+motor-activated+gels.">Nonequilibrium mechanics and dynamics of motor-activated gels.</a> Physical Review Letters. 100 (1), 018104 (2008).</li><li>Melero, 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=Light-induced+molecular+adsorption+of+proteins+using+the+PRIMO+system+for+micro-patterning+to+study+cell+responses+to+extracellular+matrix+proteins.">Light-induced molecular adsorption of proteins using the PRIMO system for micro-patterning to study cell responses to extracellular matrix proteins.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (152), e60092 (2019).</li><li>Bendix, P. 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Here, an in vitro approach is employed to characterize the mechanics of poroelastic actomyosin gels as a model system of the cell cytoskeleton and, more generally, of the cell cytoplasm, which has been shown to behave as a poroelastic material3,5. The rheology of the cell cytoskeleton (cytoplasm) has been characterized by a poroelastic diffusion constant, which dictates how long it takes for the intracellular cytosolic fluid to redistribute within the ce...

Living cells have unique mechanical properties. Besides the ability to passively react to applied forces, they are also capable of actively generating forces in response to external stimuli1. These characteristics, which are essential for a variety of cellular processes, notably during cell motility, are primarily attributed to the mechanical and dynamic properties of the cell cytoskeleton, especially the actomyosin cytoskeleton, which is an active gel of polar actin filaments, myosin molecular motors, and accessory proteins. These actomyosin networks exhibit intrinsic self-organization and contraction properties driven by the myosin motor proteins, which crosslink the actin filaments and actively generate mechanical stresses in the network fueled by ATP hydrolysis2.
Numerous experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted to study the material properties of the cytoskeleton3. The commonly accepted view is that the cytoskeleton behaves as a viscoelastic material4. This means that on short timescales, the cytoskeleton behaves as an elastic material, and on long timescales, it behaves as a viscous fluid due to the crosslinking proteins and myosin motor detachment (and reattachment), which allows the network to dynamically turnover. In many situations, however, the viscoelastic model cannot describe the experimental results, which are more consistent with a picture describing the cytoskeleton and, more generally, the cell cytoplasm being described as a poroelastic active material5,6. Two main features characterize these types of materials. (i) The first main feature is the generation of a flow of the penetrating cytosol (the &#34;solvent&#34;) across the gel pores by contractility gradients driven by the myosin motors, which underlies processes such as cell blebbing7, motility8, and cell shape oscillations9. The emergence of such cytosolic flows can be local, for blebbing, or global, like in cell motility. In the latter case, the contractile-applied stresses at the cell rear drive the flow of the cytosolic fluid toward the cell front, which replenishes the protein pool needed for lamellipodia assembly8. (ii) The second main feature is that the relaxation of stresses is diffusive and is characterized by an effective diffusion constant, , which depends on the gel elastic modulus, gel porosity, and solvent viscosity5. The poroelastic diffusion constant determines how fast the system responds to an applied stress. Higher diffusion constants correspond to faster stress redistribution. This, in turn, determines how long it takes for the intracellular cytosolic fluid to be redistributed within the cell following applied mechanical stress, be it external or internal, such as the active contractile stresses generated by myosin motors. These examples, thus, demonstrate that the mechanics of the cytoskeleton and the cytosol are tightly coupled and cannot be treated separately3.
As cells can regulate their mechanical properties in a variety of ways, the interplay between network mechanics and fluid flow dynamics remains poorly understood. A powerful alternative approach is to use in vitro reconstituted systems that allow for full control of the various microscopic constituents and the system parameters, which renders these model systems optimal for physical analysis10,11. This approach has been successfully employed to study the impact of protein composition and system geometry on actin-based motility12,13,14,15,16,17,18, the 2D patterning of actomyosin networks19,20,21,22, and the interplay between network contractility and fluid flow dynamics of poroelastic actomyosin gels, which is the focus of this paper23.
In this manuscript, the preparation of contractile elastic actomyosin networks of controllable dimensions and material properties is discussed based on the work of Ideses et al.23. The dynamics of the contracting gel and the drained solvent are analyzed and quantified, through which it is demonstrated that these actomyosin gels can be described as a poroelastic active material. Studying the effect of solvent viscosity on stress diffusivity further confirms the poroelastic nature of these networks. The various scaling relations used for data quantification are provided. Finally, the experimental challenges, the common pitfalls, and the relevance of the experimental results to the cell cytoskeleton are also discussed.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>(3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Company</td>
			<td>175617</td>
			<td>Stored under Argon atmosphere at 4 &#176;C&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic acid</td>
			<td>Bio-Lab ltd</td>
			<td>1070521</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa-Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Invitrogene</td>
			<td>A10254</td>
			<td>Diluted with DMSO, stored under Argon atmosphere at -20 &#176;C&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa-Fluor 647</td>
			<td>Invitrogene</td>
			<td>A20347</td>
			<td>Diluted with DMSO, stored under Argon atmosphere at -20 &#176;C&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma -Aldrich Company</td>
			<td>A3059</td>
			<td>Stored at 4 &#176;C&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Catalase</td>
			<td>Sigma -Aldrich Company</td>
			<td>C9322</td>
			<td>The stock bottle is kept under dry atmosphere (silica gel) at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverslips</td>
			<td>Mezel-glaser</td>
			<td>CG2222-1.5</td>
			<td>Kept in milliQ-water after the Piranha treatment and used within 3 weeks</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Creatine kinase</td>
			<td>Roche Life Science Products</td>
			<td>10736988001</td>
			<td>Prepared fresh in glycine buffer, kep on ice, and used within 3 days.&#160; The stock bottle is kept under dry atmosphere (silica gel) at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Creatine phosphate</td>
			<td>Roche Life Science Products</td>
			<td>10621714001</td>
			<td>When dissolved should be kept at -20 &#176;C and used within 3 months. The stock bottle is kept under Argon atmosphere and stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DTT</td>
			<td>Roche Life Science Products</td>
			<td>10708984001</td>
			<td>When dissolved should be kept at -20 &#176;C and used within 3 months</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual view Simultaneous Imaging System&#160;</td>
			<td>Photometrics</td>
			<td>DV2-CUBE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EGTA</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>195174</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EM-CCD Camera</td>
			<td>Andor Technology Ltd</td>
			<td>DV 887</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EM-CCD Camera</td>
			<td>Photometrics</td>
			<td>Evolve Delta</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Bio-Lab ltd</td>
			<td>525050300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flourescence Lamp</td>
			<td>Rapp Optoelectronic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluoresbrite YG Microspheres</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>17151-10</td>
			<td>200 nm diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals Inc</td>
			<td>194024</td>
			<td>When dissolved should be kept at -20 &#176;C and used within 3 months.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose oxidase</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Company</td>
			<td>G7141</td>
			<td>Kept in -20 &#176;C and used within 3 months. The stock powder is kept under Argon atmosphere and kept at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals Inc</td>
			<td>800687</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycine</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>808822</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen Peroxide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Company</td>
			<td>216763</td>
			<td>Stored at 4 &#176;C&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore Corp.</td>
			<td>529552</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Bio-Lab ltd</td>
			<td>1368052100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore Corp.</td>
			<td>442615</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>DMI3000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>mPEG-mal</td>
			<td>Nanocs</td>
			<td>PG1-ML-5k&#160;</td>
			<td>Mw = 5000 Da. Divided to small batches by weight. Stored under Argon atmosphere at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nile red microspheres</td>
			<td>Spherotech</td>
			<td>FP-2056-2&#160;</td>
			<td>2300 nm diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Objective (10x)</td>
			<td>Leica Germany</td>
			<td>HC PL AP0</td>
			<td>UPlanFL Numerical Aperture = 0.3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Objective (2.5x)</td>
			<td>Leica Germany</td>
			<td>506304</td>
			<td>&#160;Plan-NEOFLUAR Numerical Aperture = 0.075</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oven</td>
			<td>WTC Binder</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parafilm</td>
			<td>Amcor</td>
			<td>PM-996</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS Buffer</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich Company</td>
			<td>P4417</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shutter Driver</td>
			<td>Vincet Associates</td>
			<td>VMM D1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silica gel</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>1.01907.5000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sonicator</td>
			<td>Elma</td>
			<td>Elmasonic P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sulfuric acid</td>
			<td>Carlo Erba reagents</td>
			<td>410301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DV2 Dual-Channel Simultaneous-Imaging System</td>
			<td>Photometrics</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TRIS</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>819620</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UV-VIS Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Pharmacia</td>
			<td>Ultraspec 2100 pro</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MICROMAN E</td>
			<td>Gilson</td>
			<td>FD10001</td>
			<td>1&#8211;10 uL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MATLAB R2017b</td>
			<td>MathWorks</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Data quantification&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MetaMorph&#160;</td>
			<td>Molecular devices</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Control software of the optical imaging system; data quantification (particle tracking analysis, network mesh size)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the mechanics of (poro-)elastic contractile actomyosin networks as a model system of the cell cytoskeleton

Cells can actively change their shapes and become motile, a property that depends on their ability to actively reorganize their internal structure. This feature is attributed to the mechanical and dynamic properties of the cell cytoskeleton, notably, the actomyosin cytoskeleton, which is an active gel of polar actin filaments, myosin motors, and accessory proteins that exhibit intrinsic contraction properties. The usually accepted view is that the cytoskeleton behaves as a viscoelastic material. However, this model cannot always explain the experimental results, which are more consistent with a picture describing the cytoskeleton as a poroelastic active material-an elastic network embedded with cytosol. Contractility gradients generated by the myosin motors drive the flow of the cytosol across the gel pores, which infers that the mechanics of the cytoskeleton and the cytosol are tightly coupled. One main feature of poroelasticity is the diffusive relaxation of stresses in the network, characterized by an effective diffusion constant that depends on the gel elastic modulus, porosity, and cytosol (solvent) viscosity. As cells have many ways to regulate their structure and material properties, our current understanding of how cytoskeleton mechanics and cytosol flow dynamics are coupled remains poorly understood. Here, an in vitro reconstitution approach is employed to characterize the material properties of poroelastic actomyosin gels as a model system for the cell cytoskeleton. Gel contraction is driven by myosin motor contractility, which leads to the emergence of a flow of the penetrating solvent. The paper describes how to prepare these gels and run experiments. We also discuss how to measure and analyze the solvent flow and gel contraction both at the local and global scales. The various scaling relations used for data quantification are given. Finally, the experimental challenges and common pitfalls are discussed, including their relevance to cell cytoskeleton mechanics.

Two glass coverslips are used per experiment. The glass coverslips are cleaned and passivated with PEG polymers. Passivation is essential for preventing the solubilized proteins from adhering to the glass surfaces at the early experimental stages and for minimizing the interaction of the contracting network with the glass walls. Failure to achieve good passivation can lead to inefficient contraction and, in extreme cases, can even inhibit actin network formation.
Figure 1<...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton at JoVE.com

The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

In this work, an in vitro reconstitution approach is employed to study the poroelasticity of actomyosin gels under controlled conditions. The dynamics of the actomyosin gel and the embedded solvent are quantified, through which the network poroelasticity is demonstrated. We also discuss the experimental challenges, common pitfalls, and relevance to cell cytoskeleton mechanics.

The Mechanics of (Poro-)Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

Cells can actively change their shapes and become motile, a property that depends on their ability to actively reorganize their internal structure. This ...

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