Biomaterial Database

Measuring mitotic forces. 2018

Anna A Ye, and Thomas J Maresca

Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States.

Productive chromosome movements require that a large multiprotein complex called the kinetochore assemble on sister centromeres. The kinetochore fulfills two critical functions as (1) the physical linkage between chromosomes and spindle microtubules and (2) a mechanomolecular sensor that relays a spindle assembly checkpoint signal delaying anaphase onset until chromosomes are attached to spindle microtubules and bioriented. Given its central roles in such a vital process, the kinetochore is one of the most important force-transducing structures in cells; yet it has been technically challenging to measure kinetochore forces. Barriers to measuring cellular forces have begun to be broken by the development of fluorescence-based tension sensors. In this chapter, two methods will be described for measuring kinetochore forces in living cells and strategies for applying these sensors to other force-transducing processes and molecules will be discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008938	Mitosis	A type of CELL NUCLEUS division by means of which the two daughter nuclei normally receive identical complements of the number of CHROMOSOMES of the somatic cells of the species.	M Phase, Mitotic,Mitotic M Phase,M Phases, Mitotic,Mitoses,Mitotic M Phases,Phase, Mitotic M,Phases, Mitotic M
D003584	Cytological Techniques	Methods used to study CELLS.	Cytologic Technics,Cytological Technic,Cytological Technics,Cytological Technique,Technic, Cytological,Technics, Cytological,Technique, Cytological,Techniques, Cytological,Cytologic Technic,Technic, Cytologic,Technics, Cytologic
D004330	Drosophila	A genus of small, two-winged flies containing approximately 900 described species. These organisms are the most extensively studied of all genera from the standpoint of genetics and cytology.	Fruit Fly, Drosophila,Drosophila Fruit Flies,Drosophila Fruit Fly,Drosophilas,Flies, Drosophila Fruit,Fly, Drosophila Fruit,Fruit Flies, Drosophila
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001696	Biomechanical Phenomena	The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces.	Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D015374	Biosensing Techniques	Any of a variety of procedures which use biomolecular probes to measure the presence or concentration of biological molecules, biological structures, microorganisms, etc., by translating a biochemical interaction at the probe surface into a quantifiable physical signal.	Bioprobes,Biosensors,Electrodes, Enzyme,Biosensing Technics,Bioprobe,Biosensing Technic,Biosensing Technique,Biosensor,Electrode, Enzyme,Enzyme Electrode,Enzyme Electrodes,Technic, Biosensing,Technics, Biosensing,Technique, Biosensing,Techniques, Biosensing
D016596	Vinculin	A cytoskeletal protein associated with cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The amino acid sequence of human vinculin has been determined. The protein consists of 1066 amino acid residues and its gene has been assigned to chromosome 10.	alpha-Vinculin,beta-Vinculin,Isovinculin,alpha Vinculin,beta Vinculin
D016608	Talin	A 235-kDa cytoplasmic protein that is also found in platelets. It has been localized to regions of cell-substrate adhesion. It binds to INTEGRINS; VINCULIN; and ACTINS and appears to participate in generating a transmembrane connection between the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton.	Band 2 Protein,Platelet Protein p235,Protein p235, Platelet,Protein, Band 2
D031541	Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer	A type of FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY using two FLUORESCENT DYES with overlapping emission and absorption spectra, which is used to indicate proximity of labeled molecules. This technique is useful for studying interactions of molecules and PROTEIN FOLDING.	Forster Resonance Energy Transfer
D038761	Photobleaching	Light-induced change in a chromophore, resulting in the loss of its absorption of light of a particular wave length. The photon energy causes a conformational change in the photoreceptor proteins affecting PHOTOTRANSDUCTION. This occurs naturally in the retina (ADAPTATION, OCULAR) on long exposure to bright light. Photobleaching presents problems when occurring in PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY, and in FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY. On the other hand, this phenomenon is exploited in the technique, FLUORESCENCE RECOVERY AFTER PHOTOBLEACHING, allowing measurement of the movements of proteins and LIPIDS in the CELL MEMBRANE.