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- Schäffer, Tilman E, et al.
(author)
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Does abalone nacre form by heteroepitaxial nucleation or by growth through mineral bridges?
- 1997
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In: Chemistry of Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0897-4756 .- 1520-5002. ; 9:8, s. 1731-1740
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present experimental support for a model of abalone nacre growth that is based on mineral bridges between successive aragonite tablets rather than on heteroepitaxial nucleation. Interlamellar sheets of organic polymers delineate the aragonite tablets but allow the tablets to grow mineral bridges through pores in the sheets. Atomic force microscope images of interlamellar organic sheets from flat pearls made by Haliotis rufescens (red abalone; marine gastropod mollusk) reveal a fibrous core and holes of 5-50 nm in diameter. Scanning ion conductance microscopy shows that these holes are actually pores through the interlamellar sheets. With the help of statistical analysis we can associate the pore-to-pore spacings in the interlamellar sheets with the observed offsets of successive nacre tablets. These results, supplemented by AFM, SEM, and TEM images, support and extend the model of biofabrication of gastropod nacre which is based on mineral bridges between the aragonite tablets.
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2. |
- Fabry, Ben, et al.
(author)
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Focal adhesion kinase stabilizes the cytoskeleton.
- 2011
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In: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 101:9, s. 2131-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a central focal adhesion protein that promotes focal adhesion turnover, but the role of FAK for cell mechanical stability is unknown. We measured the mechanical properties of wild-type (FAKwt), FAK-deficient (FAK-/-), FAK-silenced (siFAK), and siControl mouse embryonic fibroblasts by magnetic tweezer, atomic force microscopy, traction microscopy, and nanoscale particle tracking microrheology. FAK-deficient cells showed lower cell stiffness, reduced adhesion strength, and increased cytoskeletal dynamics compared to wild-type cells. These observations imply a reduced stability of the cytoskeleton in FAK-deficient cells. We attribute the reduced cytoskeletal stability to rho-kinase activation in FAK-deficient cells that suppresses the formation of ordered stress fiber bundles, enhances cortical actin distribution, and reduces cell spreading. In agreement with this interpretation is that cell stiffness and cytoskeletal stability in FAK-/- cells is partially restored to wild-type level after rho-kinase inhibition with Y27632.
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3. |
- Klemm, Anna H, et al.
(author)
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The influence of Pyk2 on the mechanical properties in fibroblasts.
- 2010
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In: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications - BBRC. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-291X .- 1090-2104. ; 393:4, s. 694-7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cell surface receptor integrin is involved in signaling mechanical stresses via the focal adhesion complex (FAC) into the cell. Within FAC, the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Pyk2 are believed to act as important scaffolding proteins. Based on the knowledge that many signal transducing molecules are transiently immobilized within FAC connecting the cytoskeleton with integrins, we applied magnetic tweezer and atomic force microscopic measurements to determine the influence of FAK and Pyk2 in cells mechanically. Using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF; FAK(+/+), FAK(-/-), and siRNA-Pyk2 treated FAK(-/-) cells) provided a unique opportunity to describe the function of FAK and Pyk2 in more detail and to define their influence on FAC and actin distribution.
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