Focal adhesion dynamics

BIOL 47

Alex G. F. de Beer, debeer@mf.mpg.de1, Peter Kaiser1, Günter Majer1, and Joachim P. Spatz, joachim.spatz@urz.uni-heidelberg.de2. (1) Department of New Materials and Biosystems, Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Heisenbergstrasse 3, D70569 Stuttgart, Germany, (2) Department of New Materials and Biosystems, MPI for Metals Research & University of Heidelberg, Heisenbergstrasse 3, D70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Cells maintain contact with their surroundings by forming protein complexes called focal adhesions, which serve as attachment points and act as force sensors. Though the mechanism behind the force sensing capabilities is unknown, a number of different theories exist. The general assumption is the existence of a force gradient within the focal adhesion, caused by the tension of the actin cytoskeleton. The force gradient causes a chemical potential gradient, which in turn causes different turnover rates of proteins in the focal adhesion plaques. We use total internal reflection microscopy to study the dynamics of integrin, the membrane protein that forms the link between actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. We probe the different turnover rates using continuous photobleaching and at the single molecule level to determine the different diffusion rates in the cell membrane as well as the local influence of a focal adhesion complex on these diffusion rates.
 

Frontiers in Chemical Biology
5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Biological Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007