Adhesion receptor-cytoskeleton interactions in migrating tissue cells

Cell migration is a phenomenon requiring dynamic adhesive interactions between the internal cell motile machinery and the external substratum, with adhesion receptors, such as integrins, serving as the transmembrane link. The goal of this dissertation was to investigate the mechanism by which integrin interacts with cytoskeletal elements to give rise to cell movement. We have employed an available fibroblast system in which the cytoskeleton-binding domain of integrin was altered by site-directed mutagenesis. Three distinct approaches were taken: (1) laser optical trapping and nanometer-precision tracking were utilized to investigate the dynamics of integrin-cytoskeleton coupling; (2) computational simulations were performed to estimate the kinetics of these associations; and (3) cell migration parameters were examined to relate integrin-cytoskeleton binding with net cell movement.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Schmidt, Christine Elizabeth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lauffenburger, Douglas A.

• Biology, Cell
• Engineering, Biomedical
• Engineering, Chemical

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1995 Schmidt, Christine Elizabeth

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9522168
(UMI)AAI9522168

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22009