Fig. 2.

Cell permeation across sequential micropipette constrictions and the effects of taxol treatment. (a) Individual untreated and taxol treated cells were driven via pressure driven flow to permeate across sequential subnucleus-scaled constrictions. Taxol treated cells are larger (length = 31 ± 2 μm, n = 26) (inset) and require a longer transit time across the first constriction (550 ± 109 s, n = 26) than untreated cells (length = 22 ± 0.9 μm, n = 36; transit time 1 = 254 ± 59 s, n = 34). For both cell groups, the initial transit requires the longest time. Subsequent transits are faster and the difference between the two cell groups is reduced. The number of cells n examined in subsequent transit events ranged from 20 to 40. * denotes p < 0.01. (b) The transit times across the third, fourth, and fifth constrictions are normalized by the transit time across the second constriction of the same cell. Transit times are further reduced at subsequent constrictions after the second permeation. * denotes p < 0.01 when compared to unity. Error bars are s.e.m.