Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Membrane Extension (membrane + extension)
Selected AbstractsA novel function of WAVE in lamellipodia: WAVE1 is required for stabilization of lamellipodial protrusions during cell spreadingGENES TO CELLS, Issue 5 2005Daisuke Yamazaki When a cell spreads and moves, reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton pushes the cell membrane, and the resulting membrane protrusions create new points of contact with the substrate and generate the locomotive force. Membrane extension and adhesion to a substrate must be tightly coordinated for effective cell movement, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying these processes. WAVEs are critical regulators of Rac-induced actin reorganization. WAVE2 is essential for formation of lamellipodial structures at the cell periphery stimulated by growth factors, but it is thought that WAVE1 is dispensable for such processes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Here we show a novel function of WAVE in lamellipodial protrusions during cell spreading. During spreading on fibronectin (FN), MEFs with knockouts (KOs) of WAVE1 and WAVE2 showed different membrane dynamics, suggesting that these molecules have distinct roles in lamellipodium formation. Formation of lamellipodial structures on FN was inhibited in WAVE2 KO MEFs. In contrast, WAVE1 is not essential for extension of lamellipodial protrusions but is required for stabilization of such structures. WAVE1-deficiency decreased the density of actin filaments and increased the speed of membrane extension, causing deformation of focal complex at the tip of spreading edges. Thus, at the tip of the lamellipodial protrusion, WAVE2 generates the membrane protrusive structures containing actin filaments, and modification by WAVE1 stabilizes these structures through cell-substrate adhesion. Coordination of WAVE1 and WAVE2 activities appears to be necessary for formation of proper actin structures in stable lamellipodia. [source] Mass Transport Through PDMS/Clay Nanocomposite MembranesTHE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2007Quan Liu Abstract Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/clay nanocomposite membranes have been synthesized and mass transport properties through those nanocomposite membranes have been investigated. The effect of mechanical deformation on the transport properties of the PDMS (nanocomposite) membranes has also been studied. With the introduction of clay particles into the polymer matrix, mass transport is reduced, likely due to the longer diffusion path, which slows the diffusion process. The effect of membrane extension on diffusion is more complicated. Under small deformation, the permeation flux decreases, but under high deformation, it shows an enhanced diffusion. As the clay particle concentration increased, the effect of external deformation is reduced, and an enhanced diffusion is observed. On a synthétisé des membranes en nano-composites de polydiméthysiloxane et d'argile dans le but d'étudier leurs propriétés de transfert de matière. L'effet de la déformation mécanique sur les propriétés de transfert de ces membranes a également été étudié. Avec l'introduction des particules d'argile dans la matrice des polymères, le transfert de matière est réduit, probablement en raison du chemin de diffusion qui est plus long, ce qui ralentit le processus de diffusion. L'effet de l'extension des membranes sur la diffusion est plus compliqué. Sous faible déformation, le flux de perméation diminue, mais sous forte déformation, la diffusion est améliorée. Lorsque la concentration de particules d'argile augmente, l'effet de la déformation externe est réduit, et une meilleure diffusion est observée. [source] Molecular characterization of the effects of Y-27632CYTOSKELETON, Issue 2 2007Hassina Darenfed Abstract Many key cellular functions, such as cell motility and cellular differentiation are mediated by Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs). Numerous studies have been conducted to examine the ROCK signal transduction pathways involved in these motile and contractile events with the aid of pharmacological inhibitors such as Y-27632. However the molecular mechanism of action of Y-27632 has not been fully defined. To assess the relative contribution of these Rho effectors to the effects of Y-27632, we compared the cytoskeletal phenotype, wound healing and neurite outgrowth in cells treated with Y-27632 or subjected to knockdown with ROCK-I, ROCK-II or PRK-2- specific siRNAs. Reduction of ROCK-I enhances the formation of thin actin-rich membrane extensions, a phenotype that closely resembles the effect of Y-27632. Knockdown of ROCK II or PRK-2, leads to the formation of disc-like extenstions and thick actin bundles, respectively. The effect of ROCK-I knockdown also mimicked the effect of Y-27632 on wound closer rates. ROCK-I knockdown and Y-27632 enhanced wound closure rates, while ROCK-II and PRK-2 were not appreciably different from control cells. In neurite outgrowth assays, knockdown of ROCK-I, ROCK-II or PRK-2 enhances neurite lengths, however no individual knockdown stimulated neurite outgrowth as robustly as Y-27632. We conclude that several kinases contribute to the global effect of Y-27632 on cellular responses. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Vesicle traffic through intercellular bridges in DU 145 human prostate cancer cellsJOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 3 2004Cristina Vidulescu Abstract We detected cell-to-cell communication via intercellular bridges in DU 145 human prostate cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy. Since DU 145 cells have deficient gap junctions, intercellular bridges may have a prominent role in the transfer of chemical signals between these cells. In culture, DU 145 cells are contiguous over several cell diameters through filopodial extensions, and directly communicate with adjacent cells across intercellular bridges. These structures range from 100 nm to 5 ,m in diameter, and from a few microns to at least 50,100 ,m in length. Time-lapse imagery revealed that (1) filopodia rapidly move at a rate of microns per minute to contact neighboring cells and (2) intercellular bridges are conduits for transport of membrane vesicles (1,3 ,m in diameter) between adjacent cells. Immunofluorescence detected alpha-tubulin in intercellular bridges and filopodia, indicative of microtubule bundles, greater than a micron in diameter. The functional meaning, interrelationship of these membrane extensions are discussed, along with the significance of these findings for other culture systems such as stem cells. Potential applications of this work include the development of anticancer therapies that target intercellular communication and controlling formation of cancer spheroids for drug testing. [source] | ||||||||||