The Role of Actin-Binding Protein Filamin A in Cellular Stiffness and Morphology Studied by Wide-Range Scanning Probe Microscopy

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The role of filamin A (FLNa) in the organization of stress fibers has been studied by comparing the mechanical properties of FLNa-deficient human melanoma cells (M2 cells) and M2 sub-line expressing FLNa (A7 cells). We measured both the topographies and the elasticity distributions of M2 and A7 cells by using a wide-range scanning probe microscopy. In A7 cells, we observed aligned fibrous structures, whereas in M2 cells, fibrous structures were dispersed randomly. Immunofluorescent observation revealed that the aligned fibrous structures in A7 cells were stress fibers generating intracellular tension. On the other hand, the reticular structures observed in M2 cells did not correspond to actin filaments. The cellular stiffness of A7 cells was approximately twice than that of M2 cells, indicating that A7 cells produce larger contractile force through the stress fibers. These results suggest that FLNa stabilizes the stress fibers and increases the cellular stiffness.
Published by the Japan Society of Applied Physics through the Institute of Pure and Applied Physicsの論文
2006-03-30