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Article
Spatial analysis of 3′ phosphoinositide signaling in living fibroblasts, III: Influence of cell morphology and morphological polarity
Biophysical Journal (2005)
  • Ian C. Schneider, North Carolina State University at Raleigh
  • Elizabeth M. Parrish, North Carolina State University at Raleigh
  • Jason M. Haugh, North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Abstract
Activation of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase is a required signaling pathway in fibroblast migration directed by platelet-derived growth factor. The pattern of 3′ PI lipids in the plasma membrane, integrating local Pl 3-kinase activity as well as 3′ PI diffusion and turnover, influences the spatiotemporal regulation of the cytoskeleton. In fibroblasts stimulated uniformly with platelet-derived growth factor, visualized using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we consistently observed localized regions with significantly higher or lower 3′ PI levels than adjacent regions (hot and cold spots, respectively). A typical cell contained multiple hot spots, coinciding with apparent leading edge structures, and at most one cold spot at the rear. Using a framework for finite-element modeling with actual cell contact area geometries, we find that although the 3′ PI pattern is affected by irregular contact area shape, cell morphology alone cannot explain the presence of hot or cold spots. Our results and analysis instead suggest that these regions reflect different local 3′ PI dynamics, specifically through a combination of mechanisms: enhanced PI 3-kinase activity, reduced 3′ PI turnover, and possibly slow/constrained 3′ PI diffusion. The morphological polarity of the cell may thus bias 3′ PI signaling to promote persistent migration in fibroblasts.
Keywords
  • complementary DNA,
  • green fluorescent protein,
  • phosphatidylinositide,
  • platelet derived growth factor,
  • cell migration,
  • fluorescence microscopy,
  • kinetics,
  • Cell Polarity
Publication Date
August, 2005
Citation Information
Ian C. Schneider, Elizabeth M. Parrish and Jason M. Haugh. "Spatial analysis of 3′ phosphoinositide signaling in living fibroblasts, III: Influence of cell morphology and morphological polarity" Biophysical Journal Vol. 89 Iss. 2 (2005)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ian_schneider/7/