Mapping correlated membrane pulsations and fluctuations in human cells.

The cell membrane and cytoskeleton are dynamic structures that are strongly influenced by the thermo-mechanical background in addition to biologically driven mechanical processes. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure the local membrane motion of human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) which were found to be governed by random and non-random correlated mechanical processes. Interphase cells displayed distinct membrane pulsations in which the membrane was observed to slowly contract upwards followed by a recovery to its initial position.