YO
Yasushi Okada
  • Faculty, RIKEN Suita
研究方向
  • Biophysics, Cell Biology
Biophysical Analysis of Mechanical Signals in Immotile Cilia of Mouse Embryonic Nodes Using Advanced Microscopic Techniques
利用先进显微技术对小鼠胚胎结节中不动纤毛的机械信号进行生物物理分析
作者:Takanobu A. Katoh, Toshihiro Omori, Takuji Ishikawa, Yasushi Okada and Hiroshi Hamada日期:07/20/2023,浏览量:895,Q&A: 0

Immotile cilia of crown cells at the node of mouse embryos are required for sensing leftward fluid flow that gives rise to the breaking of left-right (L-R) symmetry. The flow-sensing mechanism has long remained elusive, mainly because of difficulties inherent in manipulating and precisely analyzing the cilium. Recent progress in optical microscopy and biophysical analysis has allowed us to study the mechanical signals involving primary cilia. In this study, we used high-resolution imaging with mechanical modeling to assess the membrane tension in a single cilium. Optical tweezers, a technique used to trap sub-micron-sized particles with a highly focused laser beam, allowed us to manipulate individual cilia. Super-resolution microscopy allowed us to discern the precise localization of ciliary proteins. Using this protocol, we provide a method for applying these techniques to cilia in mouse embryonic nodes. This method is widely applicable to the determination of mechanical signals in other cilia.