Investigating the dynamics of organelle-actin assembly with dielectrophoresis

• Main Authors: Ho LI-Cheng, 李正和
• Other Authors: Shu-Hsing Chen
• Format: Others
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/37918553634683909339

碩士 === 崑山科技大學 === 機械工程研究所 === 95 === Adjustment of biological systems to new environment is a topic attracting increasing attention. It is believed that biological adjustment takes place at cellular and molecular levels. To understand more about biological adjustment, this paper discusses the use of a micro-manipulation tool, dielectrophoresis, to investigation the dynamics of organelle-actin assembly in leaf cells. Dielectrophoretic forces can be generated in a alternative electric field for studying the dynamics of dielectric particles. The ubiquitous lipid-bilayered membrane of cell and organelles provides the necessary dielectric effect. In plant cells, chloroplasts are positioned by actin, and the positioning is controlled by an actin-binding protein called CHUP. Actin is a type of cytoskeleton concentrated beneath the cell membrane. Chloroplast reorganization is an important mechanism to adjust the rate of solar energy uptake. Only between 2 and 20% of the light energy absorbed by algae and higher plants is actually used in CO2 fixation. Experiments have been conducted on samples of Egeria densa placed in different lighting conditions. The observed motions will be analyzed with mathematical models for estimating natural frequencies of organelle-actin assemblies.