title: A DNA-based molecular probe for optically reporting cellular traction forces.
abstract: We developed molecular tension probes (TPs) that report traction forces of adherent cells with high spatial resolution, can in principle be linked to virtually any surface, and obviate monitoring deformations of elastic substrates. TPs consist of DNA hairpins conjugated to fluorophore-quencher pairs that unfold and fluoresce when subjected to specific forces. We applied TPs to reveal that cellular traction forces are heterogeneous within focal adhesions and localized at their distal edges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Blakely
authors.affiliation: X-Chem, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Christoph E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dumelin
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trappmann
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Colin K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Van K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Duesterberg
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Brendon M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA. [2] Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Block
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [2] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [3] The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000502:physiology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes