Visualizing and quantifying adhesive signals

Abstract

Understanding the structural adaptation and signaling of adhesion sites in response to mechanical stimuli requires in situ characterization of the dynamic activation of a large number of adhesion components. Here, we review high resolution live cell imaging approaches to measure forces, assembly and interaction of adhesion components, and the activation of adhesion-mediated signals. We conclude by outlining computational multiplexing as a framework for the integration of these data into comprehensive models of adhesion signaling pathways.

Integrins in cell migration – the actin connection

“…Biosensors that localize the activation of Rho-family GTPases have revealed such a tight spatiotemporal regulation (Kraynov et al, 2000;Nalbant et al, 2004;Sabouri-Ghomi et al, 2008).…”

The topology design principles that determine the spatiotemporal dynamics of G-protein cascades

“…Whereas Fig. 6 shows the formation and propagation of GTPase activity pulses happening within a few seconds, depending on the molecular topology design and kinetic parameters, the time scale of GTPase pulse-like waves can vary from seconds to tens of minutes, which accounts for the reported data 12,51 . Interestingly, while the cell cytoplasm resembles an excitable media, at sufficiently low oscillation frequency, all GTPase activity maxima will propagate through the cell.…”

The first five years of single-cell cancer genomics and beyond

“…This can be accomplished by connecting live-cell imaging techniques (Sabouri-Ghomi et al 2008) or intravital imaging in mice (Alexander et al 2013) with SCS methods to measure phenotypic properties in single cancer cells prior to isolation and genomic analysis. Another important direction involves connecting in situ spatial information of single cancer cells in tissue sections to their genomic and transcriptomic profiles (Crosetto et al 2015).…”