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DNA Tension Probes to Map the Transient Piconewton Receptor Forces by Immune Cells
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Quantifying tensile forces at cell-cell junctions with a DNA-based fluorescent probe.

Bin Zhao1, Ningwei Li2, Tianfa Xie2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts 01003 USA mingxuyou@umass.edu.

Chemical Science
|June 14, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a DNA tension probe (DNAMeter) to measure forces between cells. This tool allows real-time imaging and quantification of intercellular forces, advancing the study of cell mechanics.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Engineering

Background:

  • Quantifying forces at cell-cell junctions is crucial but challenging.
  • Understanding intercellular forces is key to collective cell behaviors and mechanotransduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel DNA-based ratiometric fluorescent probe, DNAMeter, for precise quantification of intercellular tensile forces.
  • To enable real-time imaging and molecular-level measurement of forces at cell-cell junctions.

Main Methods:

  • Designed DNAMeters using self-assembled DNA hairpins with varying force tolerance.
  • Lipid-modified DNAMeters were anchored onto live cell membranes.
  • Force-induced unfolding of DNA hairpins activated specific fluorescence signals for quantification.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated the ability of DNAMeters to quantify intercellular tensile forces in real-time.
  • Successfully quantified E-cadherin tension at the molecular level in epithelial cells.
  • Showcased the probe's compatibility with standard fluorescence microscopes.

Conclusions:

  • DNAMeter provides a versatile and user-friendly tool for measuring intercellular forces.
  • This technology can be widely applied to study mechanotransduction in various biological contexts.
  • Facilitates advanced research into cell-cell interactions and collective cell behaviors.