Local nanomechanical motion of the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
We demonstrate that the cell wall of living Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) exhibits local temperature-dependent nanomechanical motion at characteristic frequencies. The periodic motions in the range of 0.8 to 1.6 kHz with amplitudes of approximately 3 nm were measured using the cantilever of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Exposure of the cells to a metabolic inhibitor causes the periodic motion to cease. From the strong frequency dependence on temperature, we derive an activation energy of 58 kJ/mol, which is consistent with the cell's metabolism involving molecular motors such as kinesin, dynein, and myosin. The magnitude of the forces observed ( approximately 10 nN) suggests concerted nanomechanical activity is operative in the cell.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Andrew E
AE
Pelling
Sadaf
S
Sehati
Edith B
EB
Gralla
Joan S
JS
Valentine
James K
JK
Gimzewski
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009038:Motion; D009068:Movement; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019810:Sodium Azide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
D019810:Sodium Azide