Viscoelasticity in wild-type and vinculin-deficient (5.51) mouse F9 embryonic carcinoma cells examined by atomic force microscopy and rheology

We have been studying mouse F9 embryonic carcinoma cells which contain no detectable vinculin protein (5.51 cells), and compared them with F9 wildtype cells. Employing atomic force microscopy, we probed the elastic properties of individual F9 wildtype and 5.51 cells by measuring the dynamic response of controlled loads of the cantilever tip. An elastic modulus (Young) of similar to 3.8 and similar to 2.5 kPa was calculated for wild-type and 5.51 cells, respectively. Using disc rheometry, we detected a marked change in shear of a 1000 g pellet of similar to 55 x 10(6) cells between wild-type and 5.51 mutants, These differences are attributed to the loss of vinculin and altered cytoskeletal organization in these cells. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.