scholarly journals Multiparametric analysis of focal adhesion formation by RNAi-mediated gene knockdown

2009 ◽  
Vol 186 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina E. Winograd-Katz ◽  
Shalev Itzkovitz ◽  
Zvi Kam ◽  
Benjamin Geiger

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix is mediated by elaborate networks of multiprotein complexes consisting of adhesion receptors, cytoskeletal components, signaling molecules, and diverse adaptor proteins. To explore how specific molecular pathways function in the assembly of focal adhesions (FAs), we performed a high-throughput, high-resolution, microscopy-based screen. We used small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to target human kinases, phosphatases, and migration- and adhesion-related genes. Multiparametric image analysis of control and of siRNA-treated cells revealed major correlations between distinct morphological FA features. Clustering analysis identified different gene families whose perturbation induced similar effects, some of which uncoupled the interfeature correlations. Based on these findings, we propose a model for the molecular hierarchy of FA formation, and tested its validity by dynamic analysis of FA formation and turnover. This study provides a comprehensive information resource on the molecular regulation of multiple cell adhesion features, and sheds light on signaling mechanisms regulating the formation of integrin adhesions.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedde van Hoorn ◽  
Dominique M. Donato ◽  
H. Emrah Balcioglu ◽  
Erik H. Danen ◽  
Thomas Schmidt

AbstractCell survival, differentiation, and migration are all dependent on the cell’s interaction with its external environment. In addition to chemical cues, cells react to their physical environment, particularly the stiffness of the substrate. In order for cells to react to these elements, they must make use of cellular machinery to signal changes in their microenvironment. One such proposed machinery is the protein p130Cas, which has been shown to regulate focal adhesion turnover, actin dynamics, and cell migration. Here we show that p130Cas localizes to focal adhesions depending on substrate stiffness and subsequently modulates cellular force exertion. We compared on substrates of tunable stiffness knock-out CAS-/-cells to cells re-expressing either the full-length p130Cas or a mutant lacking the focal adhesion targeting domains. On polyacrylamide gels, we observed that p130Cas prevented focal adhesion formation at low stiffness. On structured micro-pillar arrays, p130Cas preferentially localized to sites of force exertion when the apparent Young’s modulus of the substrate was higher than E = 47 kPa. Stiffness-dependent localization of p130Cas coincided with slower, but increased force exertion for the full-length p130Cas. Cas localization to focal adhesions preceded force build-up by three minutes, suggesting a coordinating role for p130Cas in the cellular mechanoresponse. Thus, p130Cas appears to relay mechanosensory information in the cell through its ability to tune force exertion at the focal adhesion.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (22) ◽  
pp. 8019-8029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Taniyama ◽  
David S. Weber ◽  
Petra Rocic ◽  
Lula Hilenski ◽  
Marjorie L. Akers ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is a signal integrator that activates the AGC superfamily of serine/threonine kinases. PDK1 is phosphorylated on tyrosine by oxidants, although its regulation by agonists that stimulate G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathways and the physiological consequences of tyrosine phosphorylation in this setting have not been fully identified. We found that angiotensin II stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of PDK1 in vascular smooth muscle in a calcium- and c-Src-dependent manner. The calcium-activated tyrosine kinase Pyk2 acts as a scaffold for Src-dependent phosphorylation of PDK1 on Tyr9, which permits phosphorylation of Tyr373 and -376 by Src. This critical function of Pyk2 is further supported by the observation that Pyk2 and tyrosine-phosphorylated PDK1 colocalize in focal adhesions after angiotensin II stimulation. Importantly, infection of smooth muscle cells with a Tyr9 mutant of PDK1 inhibits angiotensin II-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and focal adhesion formation. These observations identify a novel interaction between PDK1 and Pyk2 that regulates the integrity of focal adhesions, which are major compartments for integrating signals for cell growth, apoptosis, and migration.


1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (20) ◽  
pp. 3421-3431 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Longley ◽  
A. Woods ◽  
A. Fleetwood ◽  
G.J. Cowling ◽  
J.T. Gallagher ◽  
...  

Syndecan-4 is a widely expressed transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan which localizes to focal adhesions. Previous studies showed that the syndecan-4 cytoplasmic domain can associate with and potentiate the activity of protein kinase C, which is required for focal adhesion formation. To examine further the role of syndecan-4 in cell adhesion, we expressed syndecan-4 cDNA constructs in CHO-K1 cells. Syndecan-2 transfection was used to confirm effects seen were specific for syndecan-4. Cells overexpressing full length syndecan-4 core protein exhibited a more flattened, fibroblastic morphology, with increased focal adhesion formation and decreased cell motility. Expression of a syndecan-4 core protein with either a partial or complete deletion of the cytoplasmic domain or of an antisense construct led to markedly decreased spreading and focal adhesion formation, a more epithelioid morphology, and decreased motility. Overexpression of syndecan-2 changed the adhesive phenotype, but did not markedly alter focal adhesion and microfilament bundle formation. The data suggest that syndecan-4 is a regulator of focal adhesion and stress fiber formation, and influences both morphology and migration.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqian Fang ◽  
Dong H Kim ◽  
Teresa Santiago-Sim

Introduction: An intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a weak spot in cerebral blood vessel wall that can lead to its abnormal bulging. Previously, we reported that mutations in THSD1 , encoding thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 1, are associated with IA in a subset of patients. THSD1 is a transmembrane molecule with a thrombospondin type-1 repeat (TSR). Proteins with TSR domain have been implicated in a variety of processes including regulation of matrix organization, cell adhesion and migration. We have shown that in mouse brain Thsd1 is expressed in endothelial cells. Hypothesis: THSD1 plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of the endothelium by promoting adhesion of endothelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells are used to investigate the role of THSD1 in vitro . THSD1 expression was knocked-down by RNA interference. Cell adhesion assay was done on collagen I-coated plates and focal adhesion formation was visualized using immunofluorescence by paxillin and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK) staining. THSD1 re-expression is accomplished by transfection with a pCR3.1-THSD1-encoding plasmid. Results: Knockdown of THSD1 caused striking change in cell morphology and size. Compared to control siRNA-treated cells that exhibited typical cobblestone morphology, THSD1 knockdown cells were narrow and elongated, and were significantly smaller ( p <0.01). Cell adherence to collagen I-coated plates was also attenuated in THSD1 knockdown cells ( p <0.01). Consistent with this finding is the observation that the number and size of focal adhesions, based on paxillin and pFAK staining, were significantly reduced after THSD1 knockdown ( p <0.01). These defects in cell adhesion and focal adhesion formation were rescued by re-expression of wild type THSD1 ( p <0.05). In contrast, initial studies indicate that expression of mutated versions of THSD1 as seen in human patients (L5F, R450*, E466G, P639L) could not restore cell adhesion and focal adhesion formation to wild type levels. Conclusions: Our studies provide evidence for a role of THSD1 and THSD1 mutations in endothelial cell adhesion and suggest a possible mechanism underlying THSD1 -mediated aneurysm disease.


FEBS Letters ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 590 (14) ◽  
pp. 2138-2145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rie Miyano ◽  
Takashi Matsumoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Takatsu ◽  
Kazuhisa Nakayama ◽  
Hye-Won Shin

2003 ◽  
Vol 371 (2) ◽  
pp. 565-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
José V. MOYANO ◽  
Alfredo MAQUEDA ◽  
Juan P. ALBAR ◽  
Angeles GARCIA-PARDO

Cell adhesion to fibronectin results in formation of actin stress fibres and focal adhesions. In fibroblasts, this response requires two co-operative signals provided by interactions of the RGD sequence with α5β1 integrin and the heparin-binding domain II (Hep II) domain with syndecan-4. Within Hep II, this activity was mapped to repeat III13 and to the peptide FN-C/H-V(WQPPRARITGY, repeat III14). We previously described that the synthetic heparin-binding peptide/III5 (HBP/III5) (WTPPRAQITGYRLTVGLTRR, repeat III5) binds heparin and mediates cell adhesion via chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans. We have now studied whether HBP/III5 co-operates with α5β1 and drives a full cytoskeletal response in melanoma cells. SKMEL-178 cells attached and spread on the RGD-containing FNIII7–FNIII10 (FNIII7–10) fragment, but did not form stress fibres or focal adhesions. Co-immobilization of HBP/III5 with FNIII7–10 or adding soluble HBP/III5 to cells prespread on FNIII7–10, effectively induced these structures. Cell transfection with dominant-negative N19RhoA, a member of the small GTPase family, abolished the HBP/III5 effect. Both chondroitinase and heparitinase diminished focal adhesions, indicating that both types of proteoglycans bound HBP/III5 in melanoma cells. We have mapped the active sequence of HBP/III5 to YRLTVGLTRR, which is a novel sequence in fibronectin with focal-adhesion-promoting activity. The last two arginine (R) residues of this sequence are required for activity, since their replacement by alanine completely abrogated the HBP/III5 cytoskeletal effect. Moreover, this sequence is also active in the context of large fibronectin fragments. Our results establish that the Hep III region provides co-operative signals to α5β1 for the progression of the cytoskeletal response and that these include activation of RhoA.


2008 ◽  
Vol 181 (6) ◽  
pp. 1013-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Bass ◽  
Mark R. Morgan ◽  
Kirsty A. Roach ◽  
Jeffrey Settleman ◽  
Andrew B. Goryachev ◽  
...  

The fibronectin receptors α5β1 integrin and syndecan-4 cocluster in focal adhesions and coordinate cell migration by making individual contributions to the suppression of RhoA activity during matrix engagement. p190Rho–guanosine triphosphatase–activating protein (GAP) is known to inhibit RhoA during the early stages of cell spreading in an Src-dependent manner. This paper dissects the mechanisms of p190RhoGAP regulation and distinguishes the contributions of α5β1 integrin and syndecan-4. Matrix-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p190RhoGAP is stimulated solely by engagement of α5β1 integrin and is independent of syndecan-4. Parallel engagement of syndecan-4 causes redistribution of the tyrosine-phosphorylated pool of p190RhoGAP between membrane and cytosolic fractions by a mechanism that requires direct activation of protein kinase C α by syndecan-4. Activation of both pathways is necessary for the efficient regulation of RhoA and, as a consequence, focal adhesion formation. Accordingly, we identify p190RhoGAP as the convergence point for adhesive signals mediated by α5β1 integrin and syndecan-4. This molecular mechanism explains the cooperation between extracellular matrix receptors during cell adhesion.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Iakovlev ◽  
Simone Faravelli ◽  
Attila Becskei

ABSTRACTExclusive stochastic gene choice combines precision with diversity. This regulation enables most T-cells to express exactly one T-cell receptor isoform chosen from a large repertoire, and to react precisely against diverse antigens. Some cells express two receptor isoforms, revealing the stochastic nature of this process. A similar regulation of odorant receptors and protocadherins enable cells to recognize odors and confer individuality to cells in neuronal interaction networks, respectively. We explored whether genes in other families are expressed exclusively by analyzing single cell RNA-seq data with a simple metric. Chromosomal segments and families are more likely to express genes concurrently than exclusively, possibly due to the evolutionary and biophysical aspects of shared regulation. Nonetheless, gene families with exclusive gene choice were detected in multiple cell types, most of them are membrane proteins involved in ion transport and cell adhesion, suggesting the coordination of these two functions. Thus, stochastic exclusive expression extends beyond the prototypical families, permitting precision in gene choice to be combined with the diversity of intercellular interactions.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Katoh

Specific regulation and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are thought to be important for focal adhesion formation, and activation of Rho-kinase has been suggested to play a role in determining the effects of FAK on the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions. To clarify the role of FAK in stress fiber formation and focal adhesion organization, we examined the formation of new stress fibers and focal adhesions by activation of Rho-kinase in FAK knockout (FAK–/–) fibroblasts. FAK–/– cells were elliptical in shape, and showed reduced numbers of stress fibers and focal adhesions in the central part of the cells along with large focal adhesions in the peripheral regions. Activation of Rho-kinase in FAK–/– cells transiently increased the actin filaments in the cell center, but these did not form typical thick stress fibers. Moreover, only plaque-like structures as the origins of newly formed focal adhesions were observed in the center of the cell. Furthermore, introduction of an exogenous GFP-labeled FAK gene into FAK–/– cells resulted in increased numbers of stress fibers and focal adhesions in the center of the cells, which showed typical fibroblast morphology. These results indicated that FAK plays an important role in the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions as well as in regulation of cell shape and morphology with the activation of Rho-kinase.


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