Controllable stress patterns over multi-generation timescale in microfluidic devices

Abstract

The generation of complex temporal stress patterns may be instrumental to investigate the adaptive properties of individual cells submitted to environmental stress on physiological timescale. However, it is difficult to accurately control stress concentration over time in bulk experiments. Here, we describe a microfluidics-based protocol to induce tightly controllable H₂O₂ stress in budding yeast while constantly monitoring cell growth with single cell resolution over multi-generation timescale. Moreover, we describe a simple methodology to produce ramping H₂O₂ stress to investigate the homeostatic properties of the H₂O₂ scavenging system.

Keywords: Adaptation; Cell growth; Live-cell imaging; Microfluidics; Stress response.