JULIANA SOARES1,2,#, DOUGLAS G. FREITAS1,3,#, PEDRO S. LOURENÇO1,4, JEFTE FARIAS1,5, BRUNO PONTES1,2,3,4,5,*
BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.9, pp. 2009-2013, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019969
Abstract Mammalian cell surfaces consist of the plasma membrane supported by an underneath cortical cytoskeleton.
Together, these structures can control not only the shape of cells but also a series of cellular functions ranging from
migration and division to exocytosis, endocytosis and differentiation. Furthermore, the cell surface is capable of
exerting and reacting to mechanical forces. Its viscoelastic properties, especially membrane tension and bending
modulus, are fundamental parameters involved in these responses. This viewpoint summarizes our current knowledge
on how to measure the viscoelastic properties of cell surfaces employing optical tweezers-based tether assays, paving
the way for a better understanding of… More >
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