Skip to Content
Merck
  • A DNA-based molecular probe for optically reporting cellular traction forces.

A DNA-based molecular probe for optically reporting cellular traction forces.

Nature methods (2014-10-13)
Brandon L Blakely, Christoph E Dumelin, Britta Trappmann, Lynn M McGregor, Colin K Choi, Peter C Anthony, Van K Duesterberg, Brendon M Baker, Steven M Block, David R Liu, Christopher S Chen
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.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Ethyl alcohol, Pure, 200 proof, anhydrous, ≥99.5%
Sigma-Aldrich
Urea, meets USP testing specifications
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol, BioXtra, ≥99.5% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Urea, suitable for electrophoresis
Sigma-Aldrich
Dimethyl sulfoxide, Molecular Biology
Sigma-Aldrich
Urea, powder, BioReagent, Molecular Biology, suitable for cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ACS reagent, 99.4-100.6%, powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, BioUltra, anhydrous, ≥99% (titration)
Sigma-Aldrich
Dimethyl sulfoxide, meets EP testing specifications, meets USP testing specifications
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, purified grade, ≥98.5%, powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol, Molecular Biology
Sigma-Aldrich
Liquified Phenol, ≥89.0%
Supelco
Ethanol, standard for GC
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol, puriss., meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, USP, 99.5-100.5% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. Ph. Eur., 99.0-100.5%
Supelco
Trifluoroacetic acid, analytical standard
Sigma-Aldrich
Dimethyl sulfoxide, sterile-filtered, BioPerformance Certified, meets EP, USP testing specifications, suitable for hybridoma
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethyl alcohol, Pure, 190 proof, meets USP testing specifications
Sigma-Aldrich
Dimethyl sulfoxide, anhydrous, ≥99.9%
Sigma-Aldrich
N-Hydroxysuccinimide, 98%
Sigma-Aldrich
Acetonitrile, anhydrous, 99.8%
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol, ACS reagent, ≥99.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt solution, BioUltra, pH 8.0, ~0.5 M in H2O
Sigma-Aldrich
Urea, BioUltra, Molecular Biology, 99% (T)
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, BioUltra, ≥99.0% (KT)
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenol solution, Equilibrated with 10 mM Tris HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, BioReagent, Molecular Biology
Sigma-Aldrich
Urea, ACS reagent, 99.0-100.5%
Sigma-Aldrich
Dimethyl sulfoxide, Hybri-Max, sterile-filtered, BioReagent, suitable for hybridoma, ≥99.7%
Supelco
Phenol, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material