The Small GTPase Rac1 Increases Cell Surface Stiffness and Enhances 3D Migration Into Extracellular Matrices.

ABSTRACT: Membrane ruffling and lamellipodia formation promote the motility of adherent cells in two-dimensional motility assays by mechano-sensing of the microenvironment and initiation of focal adhesions towards their surroundings. Lamellipodium formation is stimulated by small Rho GTPases of the Rac subfamily, since genetic removal of these GTPases abolishes lamellipodium assembly. The relevance of lamellipodial or invadopodial structures for facilitating cellular mechanics and 3D cell motility is still unclear. Here, we hypothesized that Rac1 affects cell mechanics and facilitates 3D invasion. Thus, we explored whether fibroblasts that are genetically deficient for Rac1 (lacking Rac2 and Rac3) harbor altered mechanical properties, such as cellular deformability, intercellular adhesion forces and

SUBMITTER: Kunschmann T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6531482 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature