Abstract
Vesicle transport in neurons is a highly complex nonequilibrium process. Their subcellular environment is undergoing constant fluctuations from thermal energy and molecular motors. Vesicle transport is an interplay between random motion (passive) and directed motion (active) driven by molecular motors along cytoskeletal filaments. It has been shown that growth, guidance, and vesicle dynamics of neurons is affected by mechanical tension. Here we present a method to analyze vesicle transport via a temporal Mean Square Displacement (tMSD) analysis while applying mechanical strain to neurons. The tMSD analysis allows characterization of active and passive vesicle motion as well as many other parameters including: power law scaling, velocity, direction, and flux. Our results suggest: (1) The tMSD analysis is able to capture vesicle motion alternating between passive and active states, and indicates that vesicle motion in Aplysia neurons is primarily passive (exhibiting active motion for ∼8% of the time). (2) Under mechanical stretch (increased neurite tension), active transport of vesicles increases to ∼13%, while vesicle velocity remains unchanged. (3) Upon unstretching (decreased tension), the level of active transport returns to normal but vesicle velocity decreases. These results suggest that vesicle transport in neurons is highly sensitive to mechanical stimulation. Our method allows precise characterization of vesicle dynamics in response to applied mechanical strain.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 570-578 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Lab on a Chip |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 21 2013 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry(all)
- Biomedical Engineering
Cite this
Measuring nonequilibrium vesicle dynamics in neurons under tension. / Ahmed, Wylie W.; Williams, Brian J.; Silver, Aaron M.; Saif, M Taher A.
In: Lab on a Chip, Vol. 13, No. 4, 21.02.2013, p. 570-578.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring nonequilibrium vesicle dynamics in neurons under tension
AU - Ahmed, Wylie W.
AU - Williams, Brian J.
AU - Silver, Aaron M.
AU - Saif, M Taher A
PY - 2013/2/21
Y1 - 2013/2/21
N2 - Vesicle transport in neurons is a highly complex nonequilibrium process. Their subcellular environment is undergoing constant fluctuations from thermal energy and molecular motors. Vesicle transport is an interplay between random motion (passive) and directed motion (active) driven by molecular motors along cytoskeletal filaments. It has been shown that growth, guidance, and vesicle dynamics of neurons is affected by mechanical tension. Here we present a method to analyze vesicle transport via a temporal Mean Square Displacement (tMSD) analysis while applying mechanical strain to neurons. The tMSD analysis allows characterization of active and passive vesicle motion as well as many other parameters including: power law scaling, velocity, direction, and flux. Our results suggest: (1) The tMSD analysis is able to capture vesicle motion alternating between passive and active states, and indicates that vesicle motion in Aplysia neurons is primarily passive (exhibiting active motion for ∼8% of the time). (2) Under mechanical stretch (increased neurite tension), active transport of vesicles increases to ∼13%, while vesicle velocity remains unchanged. (3) Upon unstretching (decreased tension), the level of active transport returns to normal but vesicle velocity decreases. These results suggest that vesicle transport in neurons is highly sensitive to mechanical stimulation. Our method allows precise characterization of vesicle dynamics in response to applied mechanical strain.
AB - Vesicle transport in neurons is a highly complex nonequilibrium process. Their subcellular environment is undergoing constant fluctuations from thermal energy and molecular motors. Vesicle transport is an interplay between random motion (passive) and directed motion (active) driven by molecular motors along cytoskeletal filaments. It has been shown that growth, guidance, and vesicle dynamics of neurons is affected by mechanical tension. Here we present a method to analyze vesicle transport via a temporal Mean Square Displacement (tMSD) analysis while applying mechanical strain to neurons. The tMSD analysis allows characterization of active and passive vesicle motion as well as many other parameters including: power law scaling, velocity, direction, and flux. Our results suggest: (1) The tMSD analysis is able to capture vesicle motion alternating between passive and active states, and indicates that vesicle motion in Aplysia neurons is primarily passive (exhibiting active motion for ∼8% of the time). (2) Under mechanical stretch (increased neurite tension), active transport of vesicles increases to ∼13%, while vesicle velocity remains unchanged. (3) Upon unstretching (decreased tension), the level of active transport returns to normal but vesicle velocity decreases. These results suggest that vesicle transport in neurons is highly sensitive to mechanical stimulation. Our method allows precise characterization of vesicle dynamics in response to applied mechanical strain.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84875786039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/c2lc41109a
DO - 10.1039/c2lc41109a
M3 - Article
C2 - 23303380
AN - SCOPUS:84875786039
VL - 13
SP - 570
EP - 578
JO - Lab on a Chip - Miniaturisation for Chemistry and Biology
JF - Lab on a Chip - Miniaturisation for Chemistry and Biology
SN - 1473-0197
IS - 4
ER -