Changes in the properties of membrane tethers in response to HP1α depletion in MCF7 cells.

Plasma membrane tension is known to regulate many cell functions, such as motility and membrane trafficking. Membrane tether pulling is an effective method for measuring the apparent membrane tension of cells and exploring membrane-cytoskeleton interactions. In this article, the mechanical properties of HP1 α -depleted MCF7 breast cancer cells are explored in comparison to controls, by pulling membrane tethers using optical tweezers. These studies were inspired by previous findings that a loss of HP1 α correlates with an increase in the invasive potential of malignant cancer cells. Specifically, the membrane tension and force relaxation curves for tethers pulled from MCF7 breast cancer cells with HP1 α knockdown and their matched controls were measured, and shown to be significantly different. • The mechanical properties of MCF7 breast cancer cells have been explored. • Membrane tethers were pulled from the cells using optical tweezers. • Results for membrane tension were compared when HP1 α was depleted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]