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Probing force in living cells with optical tweezers: from single-molecule mechanics to cell mechanotransduction

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Abstract

The invention of optical tweezers more than three decades ago has opened new avenues in the study of the mechanical properties of biological molecules and cells. Quantitative force measurements still represent a challenging task in living cells due to the complexity of the cellular environment. Here, we review different methodologies to quantitatively measure the mechanical properties of living cells, the strength of adhesion/receptor bonds, and the active force produced during intracellular transport, cell adhesion, and migration. We discuss experimental strategies to attain proper calibration of optical tweezers and molecular resolution in living cells. Finally, we show recent studies on the transduction of mechanical stimuli into biomolecular and genetic signals that play a critical role in cell health and disease.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 654148 Laserlab-Europe and by Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze.

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  1. LENS - European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    Claudia Arbore, Laura Perego, Marios Sergides & Marco Capitanio

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    Marco Capitanio

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  1. Claudia Arbore
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Arbore, C., Perego, L., Sergides, M. et al. Probing force in living cells with optical tweezers: from single-molecule mechanics to cell mechanotransduction. Biophys Rev 11, 765–782 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-019-00599-y

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