Variations in cell wall composition and biomechanical properties can contribute to the cellular plasticity required during complex processes such as polarized growth and elongation in microbial cells. This study utilizes atomic force microscopy (AFM) to map the cell surface topography of fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, at the pole regions and to characterize the biophysical properties within these regions under physiological, hydrated conditions. High-resolution images acquired from AFM topographic scanning reveal decreased surface roughness at the cell poles. Force extension curves acquired by nanoindentation probing with AFM cantilever tips under low applied force revealed increased cell wall deformation and decreased cellular stiffness (cellular spring constant) at cell poles (17 ± 4 mN/m) relative to the main body of the cell that is not undergoing growth and expansion (44 ± 10 mN/m). These findings suggest that the increased deformation and decreased stiffness at regions of polarized growth at fission yeast cell poles provide the plasticity necessary for cellular extension. This study provides a direct biophysical characterization of the S. pombe cell surface by AFM, and it provides a foundation for future investigation of how the surface topography and local nanomechanical properties vary during different cellular processes.

中文翻译：

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用原子力显微镜表征裂殖酵母（粟酒裂殖酵母）细胞表面的纳米力学特性

细胞壁组成和生物力学特性的变化可能有助于复杂过程中所需的细胞可塑性，例如微生物细胞的极化生长和伸长。本研究利用原子力显微镜 (AFM) 绘制裂殖酵母、粟酒裂殖酵母的细胞表面形貌图，在极地区域，并在生理、水合条件下表征这些区域内的生物物理特性。从 AFM 地形扫描获得的高分辨率图像显示细胞极的表面粗糙度降低。通过在低施加力下用 AFM 悬臂尖端进行纳米压痕探测获得的力延伸曲线显示，相对于细胞主体（17 ± 4 mN/m），细胞壁变形增加，细胞刚度（细胞弹簧常数）降低。不经历增长和扩张 (44 ± 10 mN/m)。这些发现表明，裂变酵母细胞两极极化生长区域的变形增加和刚度降低提供了细胞延伸所必需的可塑性。这项研究提供了一个直接的生物物理表征用 AFM 分析S. pombe细胞表面，它为未来研究表面形貌和局部纳米力学特性在不同细胞过程中如何变化提供了基础。