Mechanical characterization of cell signaling pathways

细胞信号通路的机械表征

• 批准号: 288279-2009
• 负责人: Grandbois, Michel
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: Université de Sherbrooke
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=525764
• 关键词: Mechanical; characterization; cell; signaling; pathways

Investigation of molecular processes leading to cell morphological remodelling is key to understanding cellular function such as adhesion, motility, differentiation and the modulation of barrier functions. These functions can be, to a certain extent, assessed by optical microscopy techniques by fluorescently labelling constituents of the cell such as element of the membrane, the cytoskeleton or the various cytosolic proteins. Despite the wealth of information provided by these experiments, there is still a lot to be learned on the involvement of individual elements in cellular processes. My research interest focus at mechanically and structurally relevant molecular processes occurring at the level of individual cells. The exploration of molecular processes governing physiological functions has significantly benefited from the emergence of novel techniques allowing for label free detection of cellular mechanical and structural activity. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) in force measurement mode and the optical trap can be used to investigate a multitude of mechanically relevant cellular events in individual living cells with great force and spatial sensitivity. The monitoring of structural changes occurring in cell layer are also amendable to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) which is a technique exquisitely sensitive to mass movement occurring in the vicinity of a surface. As demonstrated in our recent progress, the application of these techniques in cell biology will provides crucial information for an in-depth understanding of mechanisms related to cellular movement and morphological regulation in physiological context.

研究导致细胞形态重塑的分子过程是理解细胞功能如粘附、运动、分化和屏障功能调节的关键。 在一定程度上，这些功能可以通过光学显微镜技术通过荧光标记细胞的成分如膜元件、细胞骨架或各种胞质蛋白来评估。尽管这些实验提供了丰富的信息，但在细胞过程中单个元素的参与方面仍有很多东西需要了解。我的研究兴趣集中在机械和结构相关的分子过程发生在单个细胞的水平。控制生理功能的分子过程的探索已经显著受益于允许无标记检测细胞机械和结构活性的新技术的出现。原子力显微镜（AFM）在力测量模式和光阱可用于调查大量的机械相关的细胞事件在个别活细胞具有很大的力和空间灵敏度。对细胞层中发生的结构变化的监测也可应用于表面等离子体共振（SPR），表面等离子体共振是一种对表面附近发生的质量运动非常敏感的技术。 正如我们最近的进展所证明的那样，这些技术在细胞生物学中的应用将为深入了解生理背景下细胞运动和形态调控相关机制提供重要信息。