RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Imaging action potential in single mammalian neurons by tracking the accompanying sub-nanometer mechanical motion
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 168054
DO 10.1101/168054
A1 Yunze Yang
A1 Xian-Wei Liu
A1 Hui Yu
A1 Yan Guan
A1 Shaopeng Wang
A1 Nongjian Tao
YR 2017
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/07/25/168054.abstract
AB Action potentials in neurons have been studied traditionally by the patch clamp and more recently by the fluorescence detection methods. Here we describe a label-free optical imaging method that can measure mechanical motion in single cells with sub-nanometer detection limit and sub-millisecond temporal resolution. Using the method, we have observed sub-nanometer mechanical motion accompanying the action potential in single mammalian neurons. The shape and width of the transient displacement are similar to those of the electrically recorded action potential, but the amplitude varies from neuron to neuron, and from one region of a neuron to another, ranging from 0.2 - 0.4 nm. The work indicates that action potentials may be studied non-invasively in single mammalian neurons by label-free imaging of the accompanying subnanometer mechanical motion.