Wh. Goldmann et Rm. Ezzell, VISCOELASTICITY IN WILD-TYPE AND VINCULIN-DEFICIENT (5.51) MOUSE F9 EMBRYONIC CARCINOMA-CELLS EXAMINED BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY AND RHEOLOGY, Experimental cell research, 226(1), 1996, pp. 234-237
We have been studying mouse F9 embryonic carcinoma cells which contain
no detectable vinculin protein (5.51 cells), and compared them with F
9 wildtype cells. Employing atomic force microscopy, we probed the ela
stic properties of individual F9 wildtype and 5.51 cells by measuring
the dynamic response of controlled loads of the cantilever tip. An ela
stic modulus (Young) of similar to 3.8 and similar to 2.5 kPa was calc
ulated for wild-type and 5.51 cells, respectively. Using disc rheometr
y, we detected a marked change in shear of a 1000 g pellet of similar
to 55 x 10(6) cells between wild-type and 5.51 mutants, These differen
ces are attributed to the loss of vinculin and altered cytoskeletal or
ganization in these cells. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.