Combining Surface Chemistry with a FRET-Based Biosensor to Study the Dynamics of RhoA GTPase Activation in Cells on Patterned Substrates

摘要

We have combined a surface chemistry approach with a FRET-based biosensor to demonstrate for the first time how changes in the extracellular microenvironment can affect the dynamics of RhoA activations. By utilizing microcontact printing to spatially define cell adhesive and inert regions on model surfaces, we show a dramatic increase in RhoA activity in cell protrusions over inert regions. We are currently extending this study with dynamic substrates that can alter the surface microenvironment in situ via an applied potential in order to further examine RhoA activation during cell polarity and cell migration.