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Tardigrades are microscopic animals known for their endurance at extreme temperatures and pressures. Tardigrade intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs) are believed to contribute to such ability through stabilization of the membrane and cytosolic structures, increasing resistance to hyperosmotic stress, dehydration, and freezing. Mitochondria abundant heat soluble (MAHS) and cytosolic abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins are two variants of TDPs that localize to mitochondria and cytosol, respectively. These proteins retain their protective function when expressed in other species including bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells. Owing to these features, the expression of tardigrade genes is believed to be a viable strategy for increasing in stress tolerance during cryopreservation. Despite the putative role of TDPs in stabilization of membrane, the mechanisms by which transgenic expression affects the membrane mechanical characteristics are unclear. Using quantitative phase imaging (QPI) in combination with optical tweezers, we present the mechanical behavior of the plasma membrane of malignant gliomas (U87 MG), and the transgenic variants of these cells expressing MAHS and CAHS as test cells. We found that the glioblastoma cells expressing MAHS and CAHS proteins portrayed distinctive force profiles and had lower tether diameter compared to non-transduced U87 cells, suggesting an alteration in mechanical behavior of the cell membrane.
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