Departmental Papers (CBE)
Title
Indentation and adhesive probing of a cell membrane with AFM: Theoretical model and experiments
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
November 2005
Abstract
In probing adhesion and cell mechanics by atomic force microscopy (AFM), the mechanical properties of the membrane have an important if neglected role. Here we theoretically model the contact of an AFM tip with a cell membrane, where direct motivation and data are derived from a prototypical ligand-receptor adhesion experiment. An AFM tip is functionalized with a prototypical ligand, SIRPα, and then used to probe its native receptor on red cells, CD47. The interactions prove specific and typical in force, and also show in detachment, a sawtooth-shaped disruption process that can extend over hundreds of nm. The theoretical model here that accounts for both membrane indentation as well as membrane extension in tip retraction incorporates membrane tension and elasticity as well as AFM tip geometry and stochastic disruption. Importantly, indentation depth proves initially proportional to membrane tension and does not follow the standard Hertz model. Computations of detachment confirm nonperiodic disruption with membrane extensions of hundreds of nm set by membrane tension. Membrane mechanical properties thus clearly influence AFM probing of cells, including single molecule adhesion experiments.
Recommended Citation
Sen, S., Subramanian, S., & Discher, D. E. (2005). Indentation and adhesive probing of a cell membrane with AFM: Theoretical model and experiments. Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/cbe_papers/69
Date Posted: 09 November 2006
This document has been peer reviewed.
Comments
Reprinted from Biophysical Journal, Volume 89, Issue 5, 2005, pages 3203-3213.
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1529/biophysj.105.063826