Dynamic Force Measurements on Swimming Chlamydomonas Cells using Micropipette Force Sensors

TL;DR

This study introduces a novel method for direct in vivo measurement of dynamic forces exerted by swimming Chlamydomonas cells using micropipette force sensors, revealing detailed force profiles and hydrodynamic interactions near surfaces.

Contribution

It presents a new experimental approach combining micropipette force sensors and analytical modeling to measure real-time forces of motile microorganisms in controlled environments.

Findings

Measured dynamic forces of 23±5 pN during swimming.

Identified increased force transduction near surfaces.

Determined flagellar beating frequency of 51±6 Hz.

Abstract

Flagella and cilia are cellular appendages that inherit essential functions of microbial life including sensing and navigating the environment. In order to propel a swimming microorganism they displace the surrounding fluid by means of periodic motions, while precisely-timed modulations of their beating patterns enable the cell to steer towards or away from specific locations. Characterizing the dynamic forces, however, is challenging and typically relies on indirect experimental approaches. Here, we present direct in vivo measurements of the dynamic forces of motile Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells in controlled environments. The experiments are based on partially aspirating a living microorganism at the tip of a micropipette force sensor and optically recording the micropipette's position fluctuations with high temporal and sub-pixel spatial resolution. We provide an analytic elasto-hydrodynamic model for the micropipette force sensor and describe how to obtain the micropipette's full frequency response function from a dynamic force calibration. Using this approach, we find dynamic forces during the free swimming activity of individual Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells of 23$\pm$5 pN resulting from the coordinated flagellar beating with a frequency of 51$\pm$6 Hz. In addition to measurements in bulk liquid environment, we study the dynamic forces of the biflagellated microswimmer in the vicinity of a solid/liquid interface. As we gradually decrease the distance of the swimming microbe to the interface, we measure a significantly enhanced force transduction at distances larger than the maximum extend of the beating flagella, highlighting the importance of hydrodynamic interactions for scenarios in which flagellated microorganisms encounter surfaces.