Labouesse, CelineGabella, ChiaraMeister, Jean-JacquesVianay, BenoitVerkhovsky, Alexander B.2016-07-192016-07-192016-07-192016-03-3010.1038/srep23722https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/127382WOS:000373047500001Actin-myosin filament bundles (stress fibers) are critical for tension generation and cell shape, but their mechanical properties are difficult to access. Here we propose a novel approach to probe individual peripheral stress fibers in living cells through a microsurgically generated opening in the cytoplasm. By applying large deformations with a soft cantilever we were able to fully characterize the mechanical response of the fibers and evaluate their tension, extensibility, elastic and viscous properties.text::journal::journal article::research article