Separation of distinct adhesion complexes and associated cytoskeleton by a micro-stencil-printing method |
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Authors: | David Caballero Na?l Osmani Elisabeth Georges-Labouesse Michel Labouesse Daniel Riveline |
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Institution: | 1.Laboratory of Cell Physics ISIS/IGBMC; Université de Strasbourg; CNRS UMR 7006; Strasbourg, France;2.Development and Stem Cells Program; IGBMC; CNRS UMR 7104; INSERM U964; Université de Strasbourg; Illkirch, France |
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Abstract: | Adhesion between cells and the extracellular matrix is mediated by different types of transmembraneous proteins. Their associations to specific partners lead to the assembly of contacts such as focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes. The spatial overlap between both contacts within cells has however limited the study of each type of contact. Here we show that with “stampcils” focal contacts and hemidesmosomes can be spatially separated: cells are plated within the cavities of a stencil and the grids of the stencil serve as stamps for grafting an extracellular matrix protein—fibronectin. Cells engage new contacts on stamped zones leading to the segregation of adhesions and their associated cytoskeletons, i.e., actin and intermediate filaments of keratins. This new method should provide new insights into cell contacts compositions and dynamics. |
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Keywords: | focal adhesion hemidesmosomes actin filaments intermediate filaments segregation fibronectin microcontact printing stencil |
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