Image Analysis for the Quantitative Comparison of Stress Fibers and Focal Adhesions |
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| Authors: | Alberto Elosegui-Artola Alvaro Jorge-Pe?as Oihana Moreno-Arotzena Amaia Oregi Marta Lasa José Manuel García-Aznar Elena M De Juan-Pardo Rafael Aldabe |
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| Institution: | 1. Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Unit, Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Técnicas and Tecnun, University of Navarra, San Sebastian, Spain.; 2. Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.; 3. Gene Therapy and Hepatology Area, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal, |
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| Abstract: | Actin stress fibers (SFs) detect and transmit forces to the extracellular matrix through focal adhesions (FAs), and molecules in this pathway determine cellular behavior. Here, we designed two different computational tools to quantify actin SFs and the distribution of actin cytoskeletal proteins within a normalized cellular morphology. Moreover, a systematic cell response comparison between the control cells and those with impaired actin cytoskeleton polymerization was performed to demonstrate the reliability of the tools. Indeed, a variety of proteins that were present within the string beginning at the focal adhesions (vinculin) up to the actin SFs contraction (non-muscle myosin II (NMMII)) were analyzed. Finally, the software used allows for the quantification of the SFs based on the relative positions of FAs. Therefore, it provides a better insight into the cell mechanics and broadens the knowledge of the nature of SFs. |
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