Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
11
pubmed:dateCreated
2009-11-20
pubmed:abstractText
It is well known that mechanical forces are crucial in regulating functions of every tissue and organ in a human body. However, it remains unclear how mechanical forces are transduced into biochemical activities and biological responses at the cellular and molecular level. Using the magnetic twisting cytometry technique, we applied local mechanical stresses to living human airway smooth muscle cells with a magnetic bead bound to the cell surface via transmembrane adhesion molecule integrins. The temporal and spatial activation of Rac, a small guanosine triphosphatase, was quantified using a fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) method that measures changes in Rac activity in response to mechanical stresses by quantifying intensity ratios of ECFP (enhanced cyan fluorescent protein as a donor) and YPet (a variant yellow fluorescent protein as an acceptor) of the Rac biosensor. The applied stress induced rapid activation (less than 300 ms) of Rac at the cell periphery. In contrast, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) induced Rac activation at a much later time (>30 sec). There was no stress-induced Rac activation when a mutant form of the Rac biosensor (RacN17) was transfected or when the magnetic bead was coated with transferrin or with poly-L-lysine. It is known that PDGF-induced Rac activation depends on Src activity. Surprisingly, pre-treatment of the cells with specific Src inhibitor PP1 or knocking-out Src gene had no effects on stress-induced Rac activation. In addition, eliminating lipid rafts through extraction of cholesterol from the plasma membrane did not prevent stress-induced Rac activation, suggesting a raft-independent mechanism in governing the Rac activation upon mechanical stimulation. Further evidence indicates that Rac activation by stress depends on the magnitudes of the applied stress and cytoskeletal integrity. Our results suggest that Rac activation by mechanical forces is rapid, direct and does not depend on Src activation. These findings suggest that signaling pathways of mechanical forces via integrins might be fundamentally different from those of growth factors.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-10198050, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-11457818, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-12105187, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-12192056, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-12839836, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-15128949, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-15817813, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-15846350, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-16293750, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-16547516, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-16597700, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-16607289, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-16675838, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-18070887, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-18230647, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-18456839, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-18728305, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-18799748, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-7684161, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-8703406, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/19924282-9625752
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1932-6203
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
4
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
e7886
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-9-26
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Rapid activation of Rac GTPase in living cells by force is independent of Src.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural