Magnetic control of Dictyostelium aggregation

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2007 Apr;75(4 Pt 1):041906. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.75.041906. Epub 2007 Apr 6.

Abstract

We report the control of cell migration by external magnetic forces during the early stage of Dictysostelium discoideum morphogenesis. Magnetically labeled aggregating cells respond to the presence of a magnetic field created by a thin magnetic tip: forces as low as 30 pN are sufficient to elicit the aggregation of the cells at the extremity of the tip. This induced magnetotaxis is competitive to classical chemotaxis. We therefore underline the interplay between external mechanical forces and morphogenesis. This magnetic assay will open new possibilities in the study of morphogenesis in Dictyostelium.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biophysics / methods
  • Calibration
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemotaxis
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Dictyostelium / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetics
  • Models, Biological
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Cyclic AMP