Live cell tracking of symmetry break in actin cytoskeleton triggered by abrupt changes in micromechanical environments
S. Inoue§, V. Frank§, M. Hörning§, S. Kaufmann, H. Y. Yoshikawa, J. P. Madsen, A. L. Lewis, S. P. Armes and M. Tanaka*
Biomaterials Science, 3, 12, 1539-1544, 2015
 - doi : 10.1039/c5bm00205b

Brief Summary: ''... The morphological dynamics of myoblast (C2C12) cells in response to an abrupt change in the substrate elasticity was monitored by live cell imaging. The remodeling of actin cytoskeletons could be monitored by means of transient transfection with LifeAct-GFP and the dynamic changes in the orientational order of actin filaments were quantified. The critical role that acto-myosin complexes play in the morphological transition was verified by the treatment of cells with myosin II inhibitor (blebbistatin) and the fluorescence localization of focal adhesion contacts. ...''

Elimination of a spiral wave pinned at an obstacle by a train of plane waves: Effect of diffusion between obstacles and surrounding media
M. Tanaka, M. Hörning, H. Kitahata* and K. Yoshikawa
Chaos, 25, 10, 2015, - doi : 10.1063/1.4934561

Brief Summary: ''... In this study, we investigated the difference in the unpinning of spiral waves from obstacles with and without diffusive interaction, and found a profound difference. The pacing period required for unpinning at fixed obstacle size is larger in case of diffusive obstacles. Further, we deduced a generic theoretical framework that can predict the minimal unpinning period. ...''