Fluorescent beads disintegrate actin networks.

We studied the influence of fluorescent polystyrene beads on both entangled and cross-linked actin networks. Thermal bead fluctuations were observed via video particle tracking and analyzed with one-point microrheology. Illumination of fluorescent beads with their appropriate excitation wavelength leads to a drastic softening of actin gels. Other wavelengths and bright field microscopy do not increase thermal bead fluctuations. This effect cannot be significantly reduced by adding common oxygen scavengers. We conclude that the usage of fluorescent beads impairs results when studying the microrheology of actin networks.