Distinct roles of frontal and rear cell-substrate adhesions in fibroblast migration.

ABSTRACT: Cell migration involves complex physical and chemical interactions with the substrate. To probe the mechanical interactions under different regions of migrating 3T3 fibroblasts, we have disrupted cell-substrate adhesions by local application of the GRGDTP peptide, while imaging stress distribution on the substrate with traction force microscopy. Both spontaneous and GRGDTP-induced detachment of the trailing edge caused extensive cell shortening, without changing the overall level of traction forces or the direction of migration. In contrast, disruption of frontal adhesions caused dramatic, global loss of traction forces before any significant shortening of the cell. Although traction forces and cell migration recovered within 10-20 min of transient frontal treatment, persistent treatment w

SUBMITTER: Munevar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC60767 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature