Quantifying tensile forces at cell–cell junctions with a DNA-based fluorescent probe |
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| Authors: | Bin Zhao Ningwei Li Tianfa Xie Yousef Bagheri Chungwen Liang Puspam Keshri Yubing Sun Mingxu You |
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| Institution: | Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 USA.; Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 USA.; Computational and Modeling Core, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 USA |
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| Abstract: | Cells are physically contacting with each other. Direct and precise quantification of forces at cell–cell junctions is still challenging. Herein, we have developed a DNA-based ratiometric fluorescent probe, termed DNAMeter, to quantify intercellular tensile forces. These lipid-modified DNAMeters can spontaneously anchor onto live cell membranes. The DNAMeter consists of two self-assembled DNA hairpins of different force tolerance. Once the intercellular tension exceeds the force tolerance to unfold a DNA hairpin, a specific fluorescence signal will be activated, which enables the real-time imaging and quantification of tensile forces. Using E-cadherin-modified DNAMeter as an example, we have demonstrated an approach to quantify, at the molecular level, the magnitude and distribution of E-cadherin tension among epithelial cells. Compatible with readily accessible fluorescence microscopes, these easy-to-use DNA tension probes can be broadly used to quantify mechanotransduction in collective cell behaviors.A DNA-based fluorescent probe to quantify the magnitude and distribution of tensile forces at cell–cell junctions. |
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