Visualizing Molecular Chaperone Controlled Resilient Cell Traction Force by Micropost Arrays Fabricated by Two-Photon Initiated Polymerization

Freestanding compliant micropost arrays were fabricated on a glass surface by two-photon-initiated polymerization of polyacrylamide gels. Subcellular force exerted on each post was evaluated from the independent displacement of the post. The elasticity of the gel (57 kPa) was designed to be as compliant as biological tissues. We tried this array to reproduce the in situ behavior of L6 rat myoblasts. Cells stayed still extending pseudopodia exerting traction force. When the expression of one of the molecular chaperones, aB-crystallin was knocked down, the cells kept wandering showing round-shaped contours confirming the significance of aB-crystallin in maintaining subcellular attachment to extracellular matrix. We consider the micropost arrays suitable for subcellular analyses of mechanical behavior at in situ-relevant conditions.