Mechanical forces regulate neuronal activity during C. elegans locomotion:

 

Finally! The latest paper from the Neurophotonics & Mechanical Systems Biology group  at ICFO has been published in SCIENCE ADVANCES.

In this work entitled “An asymmetric mechanical code ciphers curvature-dependent proprioceptor activity”, the mechanical activation of neuronal activity in C. elegans is studied by means of genome editing, modelling and direct force spectroscopy integrated in SENSOCELL optical tweezers. The system is also combined with spinning-disk confocal microscopy to monitor Ca2+ ion channel dynamics during axon membrane tether extrusion experiments.

In particular, Michael Krieg‘s lab lab investigates the mechanics, molecules and neurons responsible for proprioception in C. elegans with the ultimate goal of understanding how physical forces and mechanical stimuli  play a role in health and disease. Another important field of research in the lab is the study of how mechanotransduction cues govern the cell nucleus reorganization with the aim to extend this work to other intracellular compartments.

Keep going !

 

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