USING SELF ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS TO STUDY CELL MIGRATION

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DESCRIPTION: This research will use self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolates on gold as model substrates with which to study the mechanistic roles of ligand-receptor interactions in cell migration. This work will focus on the migration of fibroblasts on SAMs presenting a uniform density of the RGD tripeptide (for adhesion of cells) and a gradient of the carbohydrate N-acetylglucosamine; the cell uses a galactosyltransferase receptor to bind the immobilized carbohydrate and migrate in the direction of increasing density of this ligand. This work will use these substrates--and those presenting non-natural analogs of the ligands--to address several mechanistic issues: (i) determine the relationship between the migration of fibroblasts and the density and geometry of the gradient of carbohydrate; (ii) investigate the basis for polarization of migrating cells; (iii) determine the relative rates for extension of the leading edge and retraction of the trailing edge of the migrating cell; (iv) determine the relevance of glycosylation by the receptor for migration.