IN SITU OBSERVATION OF NUCLEAR BEHAVIOR DURING LASER NANO-DISSECTION OF ACTIN STRESS FIBERS: MECHANICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ACTIN STRESS FIBERS AND NUCLEUS

摘要

In order to elucidate the mechanotransduction mechanism of adherent cells, it is crucial to clarify how forces applied to cells are transmitted through intracellular components, Actin stress fibers (SFs) play important roles in various cellular events including cell proliferation [1], differentiation [2] and gene expression [3]. SFs generate internal forces and contribute to physical interactions between cells and extracellular matrices [4]. It has recently been suggested that cytoskeletons have the potential to interact with nuclei via certain nuclear membrane proteins [5, 6]. However, it remains unclear at this stage whether SFs are involved in a mechanical interaction with the cell nucleus and their internal forces are transmitted directly to the nucleus. In order to clarify these issues, we observed the dynamic behavior of the nucleus during dissection of SFs in adherent vascular smooth muscle cells using a laboratory-built laser nanoscissor, and investigated the mechanical interaction between SFs and the nucleus.