Quantitative characterization of adhesion and stiffness of corneal lens of Drosophila melanogaster using atomic force microscopy

Devi, Lavanya AL and Nongthomba, Upendra and Bobji, MS (2016) Quantitative characterization of adhesion and stiffness of corneal lens of Drosophila melanogaster using atomic force microscopy. In: JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS, 53 . pp. 161-173.

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Abstract

Atomic force Microscopy (AFM) has become a versatile tool in biology due to its advantage of high-resolution imaging of biological samples close to their native condition. Apart from imaging, AFM can also measure the local mechanical properties of the surfaces. In this study, we explore the possibility of using AFM to quantify the rough eye phenotype of Drosophila melanogaster through mechanical properties. We have measured adhesion force, stiffness and elastic modulus of the corneal lens using AFM. Various parameters affecting these measurements like cantilever stiffness and tip geometry are systematically studied and the measurement procedures are standardized. Results show that the mean adhesion force of the ommatidial surface varies from 36 nN to 16 nN based on the location. The mean stiffness is 483 +/- 5 N/m, and the elastic modulus is 3.4 +/- 0.05 GPa (95% confidence level) at the center of ommatidia. These properties are found to be different in corneal lens of eye expressing human mutant tau gene (mutant). The adhesion force, stiffness and elastic modulus are decreased in the mutant. We conclude that the measurement of surface and mechanical properties of D. melanogaster using AFM can be used for quantitative evaluation of `rough eye' surface. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
Publisher:	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Keywords:	Atomic force microscope; Adhesion; Stiffness; Drosophila melanogaster; Corneal lens; Rough eye quantification
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics Division of Mechanical Sciences > Mechanical Engineering Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Centre for Nano Science and Engineering
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2016 07:04
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2016 07:04
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/53079

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