Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the in vivo manipulation of internal cell organelles. Optical tweezers-based techniques offer novel opportunities for subcellular manipulation and the study of cell processes that require precise positioning of cell organelles. The chapter describes some basic techniques for the intracellular manipulation of cell organelles using the giant freshwater amoeba, Reticulomyxa, and the green alga, Spirogyra, as model systems. Both cell models afford damage-free manipulation of mitochondria, particles, or membrane tubes, thus providing insights into the forces required to move organelles. The experiments on cell process formation in Reticulomyxa and on motor forces in Spirogyra were performed with the optical tweezers setup. The giant amoeba Reticulomyxa possesses a central cell body and a peripheral feeding network of fine cytoplasmic strands that extend several centimeters from the cell body. To measure the forces driving single mitochondria along microtubules within fine strands of the reticulopodial network, a mitochondrium simply has to be trapped with a force greater than the molecular motor force.
Published Version
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