Membrane tether formation from outer hair cells with optical tweezers

The mechanical properties of the outer hair cells (OHCs) lateral wall are essential to elucidate the mechanism of OHC electromotility. Optical tweezers were used to characterize the mechanical properties of OHC plasma membrane (PM) by pulling tethers. A greater force was required for tether formations from OHC lateral wall (499 pN +/- 152) than from OHC basal end (142 pN +/- 49), consistent with the presence of a more extensive cytoskeleton support beneath the PM at the lateral wall. The apparent PM stiffness, which was estimated by measuring tether force at different tether length, was 3.71 pN/mum for OHC lateral wall and 4.57 pN/mum for OHC basal end. The apparent PM viscosity was measured by pulling tethers at different rates while continuously recording the tether force, and was estimated in the range of 13--33 pN·s/mum.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Li, Zhiwei

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brownell, William

• Biomedical engineering
• Biophysics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17521

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17521