Changes in nanomechanical properties and adhesion dynamics of algal cells during their growth

(IPS, Toulouse, France) Pillet, F; Dague, E; Pečar Ilić, J; Ružić, I; Rols, M-P; Ivošević DeNardis, Nadica (2019) Changes in nanomechanical properties and adhesion dynamics of algal cells during their growth. Bioelectrochemistry, 127 . pp. 154-162. ISSN 1567-5394

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Abstract

Nanomechanical and structural characterisations of algal cells are of key importance for understanding their adhesion behaviour at interfaces in the aquatic environment. We examine here the nanomechanical properties and adhesion dynamics of the algal cells during two phases of their growth using complementary surface methods and the mathematical modelling. Mechanical properties of motile cells are hard to assess while keeping cells viable, and studies to date have been limited. Immobilisation of negatively charged cells to a positively charged substrate enables high-resolution AFM imaging and nanomechanical measurements. Cells were stiffer and more hydrophobic in the exponential than in the stationary phase, suggesting molecular modification of the cell envelope during aging. The corresponding properties of algal cells were in agreement with the increase of critical interfacial tensions of adhesion, determined amperometrically. Cells in exponential phase possessed a larger cell volume, in agreement with the large amount of amperometrically measured displaced charge at the interface. Differences in the kinetics of adhesion and spreading of cells at the interface were attributed to their various volumes and nanomechanical properties that varied during cell aging. Our findings contribute to the present body of knowledge on the biophysics of algal cells on a fundamental level.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This work was supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports through the projects (i) 098-0982934-2744, (ii) the Croatia-France bilateral programme Cogito (0411B014), and (iii) grants provided by the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), Project PIERGEN ANR-12-ASTR-0039, the Direction Generale de l'Armement (DGA) and the Midi-Pyrenees Region.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	AFM ; algal cell adhesion ; amperometry ; kinetics ; mathematical model ; nanomechanics
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Depositing User:	Nadica Ivošević DeNardis
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2019 11:26
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/4635
DOI:	10.1016/j.bioelechem.2019.02.011

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