Cell-substrate impedance fluctuations of single amoeboid cells encode cell-shape and adhesion dynamics

Phys Rev E. 2016 Jan;93(1):012414. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.93.012414. Epub 2016 Jan 25.

Abstract

We show systematic electrical impedance measurements of single motile cells on microelectrodes. Wild-type cells and mutant strains were studied that differ in their cell-substrate adhesion strength. We recorded the projected cell area by time-lapse microscopy and observed irregular oscillations of the cell shape. These oscillations were correlated with long-term variations in the impedance signal. Superposed to these long-term trends, we observed fluctuations in the impedance signal. Their magnitude clearly correlated with the adhesion strength, suggesting that strongly adherent cells display more dynamic cell-substrate interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion / physiology*
  • Dictyostelium / cytology*
  • Dictyostelium / genetics
  • Dictyostelium / physiology*
  • Electric Impedance
  • Microelectrodes*
  • Microscopy
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Mutation
  • Periodicity
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Time