Laser-induced shockwave paired with FRET: A method to study cell signaling

• Published in: Microscopy research and technique Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. 195 - 199
• Main Authors: Gomez-Godinez, Veronica, Preece, Daryl, Shi, Linda, Khatibzadeh, Nima, Rosales, Derrick, Pan, Yijia, Lei, Lie, Wang, Yingxiao, Berns, Michael W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Biosensors; Calcium; Calcium - analysis; Cattle; Cells, Cultured; Cytological Techniques - methods; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Endothelial Cells - radiation effects; Energy transfer; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; FRET; laser-induced shockwave; Lasers; Mechanical Phenomena; Optical Imaging - methods; Shock waves; Signal Transduction; Single-Cell Analysis - methods; laser-induced shockwave; Calcium; FRET
• ISSN: 1059-910X; 1097-0029; 1097-0029
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.22463

ABSTRACT Cells within the body are subject to various forces; however, the details concerning the way in which cells respond to mechanical stimuli are not well understood. We demonstrate that laser‐induced shockwaves (LIS) combined with biosensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a promising new approach to study biological processes in single live cells. As “proof‐of‐concept,” using a FRET biosensor, we show that in response to LIS, cells release intracellular calcium. With the parameters used, cells retain their morphology and remain viable. LIS combined with FRET permits observation of the cells immediate response to a sudden shear force. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:195–199, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.