Published in

Nature Research, Nature Methods, 12(11), p. 1229-1232, 2014

DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.3145

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

A DNA-based molecular probe for optically reporting cellular traction forces

Journal article published in 2014 by Brandon L. Blakely, Christoph E. Dumelin, Britta Trappmann, Lynn M. McGregor ORCID, Colin K. Choi, Peter C. Anthony, Van K. Duesterberg, Brendon M. Baker, Steven M. Block, David R. Liu, Christopher S. Chen
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Upload
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Policy details
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

We developed molecular tension probes (TPs) that report traction forces of adherent cells with high spatial resolution, can in principle be linked to virtually any surface, and obviate monitoring deformations of elastic substrates. TPs consist of DNA hairpins conjugated to fluorophore-quencher pairs that unfold and fluoresce when subjected to specific forces. We applied TPs to reveal that cellular traction forces are heterogeneous within focal adhesions and localized at their distal edges.