SGER: Development of Molecular-Resolution Imaging of Cell-Surface Nanostructures in their Native Hydrated State

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AbstractCTS-9908864S. Banerjee and R. Lal, UCSBThe investigation aims to uncover basic mechanisms by which biological flows interact with nanostructures on cell surfaces. Atomic force microscope (AFM) scanning and subnanometer-scale imaging of cell surface mechano-receptors will be performed. Those receptors are nanostructures that undergo three-dimensional molecular conformation changes under the influence of flow forces and induce cascades of biological responses that affect cell and tissue behavior. This project is focused on direct molecular visualization of nanostructures on cell surfaces by using a specially modified AFM immersed in an aqueous medium. Optical fluorescence will be used to image the same area measured with AFM. The AFM measurements will be combined with electrophisiological, immunological and biochemical techniques for structure-function correlation studies. The necessary AFM modifications for soft tissues and its accuracy limits will be investigated. The capability of the modified AFM to identify subsets of macromolecules in a complex specimen such as a cell membrane will be explored. If successful, the proposed imaging system will allow improvements in the accuracy of AFM on soft tissues immersed in liquids, with relevance to quantifying and understanding cell-flow interaction and related electrophysiological and biochemical responses. ***