Magnetic control of Dictyostelium aggregation.
We report the control of cell migration by external magnetic forces during the early stage of Dictysostelium discoideum morphogenesis. Magnetically labeled aggregating cells respond to the presence of a magnetic field created by a thin magnetic tip: forces as low as 30 pN are sufficient to elicit the aggregation of the cells at the extremity of the tip. This induced magnetotaxis is competitive to classical chemotaxis. We therefore underline the interplay between external mechanical forces and morphogenesis. This magnetic assay will open new possibilities in the study of morphogenesis in Dictyostelium.
Wilhelm
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Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, CNRS UMR 7057-Université Paris 7, Paris, France. claire.wilhelm@univ-paris-diderot.fr
Rivière
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C
Biais
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D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D002138:Calibration; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D002633:Chemotaxis; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008280:Magnetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D013997:Time Factors
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D000242:Cyclic AMP