Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics.
The mechanical properties of bacterial cells are determined by their stress-bearing elements. The size of typical bacterial cells, and the fact that different time and length scales govern their behavior, necessitate special experimental techniques in order to probe their mechanical properties under...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3879274?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1828306857181052928 |
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| author | Yaron Caspi |
| author_facet | Yaron Caspi |
| author_sort | Yaron Caspi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The mechanical properties of bacterial cells are determined by their stress-bearing elements. The size of typical bacterial cells, and the fact that different time and length scales govern their behavior, necessitate special experimental techniques in order to probe their mechanical properties under various spatiotemporal conditions. Here, we present such an experimental technique to study cell mechanics using hydrodynamic forces in a microfluidic device. We demonstrate the application of this technique by calculating the flexural rigidity of non-growing Escherichia coli cells. In addition, we compare the deformation of filamentous cells under growing and non-growing conditions during the deformation process. We show that, at low forces, the force needed to deform growing cells to the same extent as non-growing cells is approximately two times smaller. Following previous works, we interpret these results as the outcome of the difference between the elastic response of non-growing cells and the plastic-elastic response of growing cells. Finally, we observe some heterogeneity in the response of individual cells to the applied force. We suggest that this results from the individuality of different bacterial cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:49:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51f5096b59094847805f8ac0493eb2a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:49:47Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-51f5096b59094847805f8ac0493eb2a72022-12-22T02:42:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0191e8377510.1371/journal.pone.0083775Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics.Yaron CaspiThe mechanical properties of bacterial cells are determined by their stress-bearing elements. The size of typical bacterial cells, and the fact that different time and length scales govern their behavior, necessitate special experimental techniques in order to probe their mechanical properties under various spatiotemporal conditions. Here, we present such an experimental technique to study cell mechanics using hydrodynamic forces in a microfluidic device. We demonstrate the application of this technique by calculating the flexural rigidity of non-growing Escherichia coli cells. In addition, we compare the deformation of filamentous cells under growing and non-growing conditions during the deformation process. We show that, at low forces, the force needed to deform growing cells to the same extent as non-growing cells is approximately two times smaller. Following previous works, we interpret these results as the outcome of the difference between the elastic response of non-growing cells and the plastic-elastic response of growing cells. Finally, we observe some heterogeneity in the response of individual cells to the applied force. We suggest that this results from the individuality of different bacterial cells.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3879274?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Yaron Caspi Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics. PLoS ONE |
| title | Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics. |
| title_full | Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics. |
| title_fullStr | Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics. |
| title_short | Deformation of filamentous Escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device: a new technique to study cell mechanics. |
| title_sort | deformation of filamentous escherichia coli cells in a microfluidic device a new technique to study cell mechanics |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3879274?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yaroncaspi deformationoffilamentousescherichiacolicellsinamicrofluidicdeviceanewtechniquetostudycellmechanics |