Authors:

Defne Ekici

Date Created:

Not specified

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

Calcium-induced actin remodeling is an essential mechanism that supports successful meiotic progression and fertilization. Micropipette aspiration (MPA) studies have demonstrated that oocyte cell membranes undergo significant cytoskeletal changes throughout maturation. We suspect that these cytoskeletal changes are a result of calcium signaling within the cell. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is an imaging method that allows for mapping of the sample image, a mechanical readout of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, and measurement of the force between the tip of the cantilever and the sample. Force Spectroscopy is an AFM technique in which the cantilever and tip of the AFM is brought directly into contact with the substrate, known as indentation, and then retracted. To estimate the material properties of an oocyte from the force displacement data, Hertzian Contact conditions must be assumed. There are two potential contact models for this system: Sphere-on-Sphere contact and Sphere-on-Plane contact. MATLAB technologies were utilized to simulate the contact models, obtain force-displacement curves, and compare the differences in the two. Given that the percent difference in contact diameter between both models is relatively low (4.88 % difference), Sphere-on-Plane Hertzian simplifications are applicable to an oocyte and a spherical AFM tip. The respective Sphere-on-Plane model will be used to estimate the elastic modulus of oocytes from prophase I through metaphase II. Keywords: Atomic Force Microscopy; Biomechanics; Oocytes; Developmental Biology; MATLAB

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Defne Ekici