Study of Mechanical properties of neuronal growth cone membranes by Optical tweezers (OT) (CAT#: STEM-MB-1315-WXH)

Introduction

Growth cones are highly motile structures that explore the extracellular environment, determine the direction of growth, and then guide the extension of the axon in that direction.
Cell migration is an important component of metastasis, invasion, the immune response, and development. During migration, the plasma membrane is distorted by the mechanical forces of the motility process. In the case of growth cone migration, the axon must elongate, increasing the plasma membrane area dramatically. Even if the membrane is passive, the growth cone must work against the load that membrane distortion produces. Consequently, the mechanical properties of the cell membranes contribute to the cell deformability and movement. Understanding the mechanical properties of growth cone membranes will help us better understand cell migration at a fundamental level.