Femtosecond laser-induced cell fusion

Femtosecond laser was employed to induce cell fusion. The interface between two protoplasts of Phaffia rhodozyma in contact was irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses with 1.38x10(4) W for 0.25 s. After about 20 min, the fusion of cells became visible and finally two cells merged into one larger cell within 160 min. Fusion rate at this power level was 80%. The experiments suggested the existence of threshold power for cell fusion induced by femtosecond laser. Regarding femtosecond laser pulses as a trigger, we present a hypothetical model for femtosecond laser-induced cell fusion. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.