DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307704101. Forces generated during actin-based propulsion: A direct measurement by micromanipulation

Forces generated during actin-based propulsion: A direct measurement by micromanipulation

10.1073/pnas.0307704101

Crossref journal-article

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (341)

Abstract

Dynamic actin networks generate forces for numerous types of movements such as lamellipodia protrusion or the motion of endocytic vesicles. The actin-based propulsive movement of Listeria monocytogenes or of functionalized microspheres have been extensively used as model systems to identify the biochemical components that are necessary for actin-based motility. However, quantitative force measurements are required to elucidate the mechanism of force generation, which is still under debate. To directly probe the forces generated in the process of actin-based propulsion, we developed a micromanipulation experiment. A comet growing from a coated polystyrene bead is held by a micropipette while the bead is attached to a force probe, by using a specially designed “flexible handle.” This system allows us to apply both pulling and pushing external forces up to a few nanonewtons. By pulling the actin tail away from the bead at high speed, we estimate the elastic modulus of the gel and measure the force necessary to detach the tail from the bead. By applying a constant force in the range of –1.7 to 4.3 nN, the force–velocity relation is established. We find that the relation is linear for pulling forces and decays more weakly for pushing forces. This behavior is explained by using a dimensional elastic analysis.

Bibliography

Marcy, Y., Prost, J., Carlier, M.-F., & Sykes, C. (2004). Forces generated during actin-based propulsion: A direct measurement by micromanipulation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(16), 5992â5997.

Authors 4

Yann Marcy (first)
Jacques Prost (additional)
Marie-France Carlier (additional)
Cécile Sykes (additional)

References 39 Referenced 217

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Dates

Type	When
Created	21 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2004, 9:04 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2022, 10 a.m.)
Indexed	6 days, 16 hours ago (Aug. 19, 2025, 7:04 a.m.)
Issued	21 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2004)
Published	21 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2004)
Published Online	21 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2004)
Published Print	21 years, 4 months ago (April 20, 2004)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Marcy_2004, title={Forces generated during actin-based propulsion: A direct measurement by micromanipulation}, volume={101}, ISSN={1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0307704101}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.0307704101}, number={16}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Marcy, Yann and Prost, Jacques and Carlier, Marie-France and Sykes, Cécile}, year={2004}, month=apr, pages={5992–5997} }

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