Difference in biophysical properties of cancer-initiating cells in melanoma mutated zebrafish

N Makarova; Vivek Kalaparthi; Andrew Wang; Chris Williams; M E Dokukin; Charles K Kaufman; Leonard Zon; I Sokolov

doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103746

Difference in biophysical properties of cancer-initiating cells in melanoma mutated zebrafish

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2020 Jul:107:103746. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103746. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Authors

N Makarova¹, Vivek Kalaparthi¹, Andrew Wang¹, Chris Williams¹, M E Dokukin², Charles K Kaufman³, Leonard Zon⁴, I Sokolov⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Sarov Physics and Technology Institute, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Sarov, Russian Federation.
³ Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁴ Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA. Electronic address: igor.sokolov@tufts.edu.

Abstract

Despite sharing oncogenetic mutations, only a small number of cells within a given tissue will undergo malignant transformation. Biochemical and physical factors responsible for this cancer-initiation process are not well understood. Here we study biophysical differences of pre-melanoma and melanoma cells in a BRAF^V600E/P53 zebrafish model. The AFM indentation technique was used to study the cancer-initiating cells while the surrounding melanocytes were the control. We observed a statistically significant decrease in the modulus of elasticity (the effective Young's modulus) of cancer-initiating cells compared to the surrounding melanocytes. No significant differences in the pericellular coat surrounding cells were observed. These results contribute to a better understanding of the factors responsible for the initiation of cancer.

Keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Cell mechanics; Initiation of cancer; Pericellular coat; Zebrafish.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Elastic Modulus
Elasticity
Melanoma* / genetics
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Zebrafish* / genetics

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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