CELL TRACES - FOOTPRINTS OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS DURING LOCOMOTION AND ADHESION

Citation
G. Fuhr et al., CELL TRACES - FOOTPRINTS OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS DURING LOCOMOTION AND ADHESION, Biological chemistry, 379(8-9), 1998, pp. 1161-1173
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Biology
Journal title
ISSN journal
14316730
Volume
379
Issue
8-9
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1161 - 1173
Database
ISI
SICI code
1431-6730(1998)379:8-9<1161:CT-FOI>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Animal cells release traces of material onto glass or silicon surfaces during adhesion and migration, This little studied phenomenon is a wi despread and normal concomitant of cell migration, The paper introduce s the study of such material. The traces can be visualised by differen t microscopic techniques (e.g. TIRF, IRM, CLSM, AFM, SEM). Cell traces typical for different cell lines (NIH 3T3 and L929 mouse fibroblasts, mouse macrophages, mouse sarcoma cells and human osteosarcoma cells)a re shown and discussed, There are well organised structures such as di fferent linear and nodular elements as well as patches. Traces can ext end up to some hundred micrometers from the cell, but the dimensions o f the linear elements are in the submicron range, Cell traces are not identical with focal contacts but can include them, A first classifica tion of basic elements is proposed, It allows an estimation of the tot al volume and surface in comparison to the donor cell, Higher order st ructures are discussed and a first insight into the protein compositio n of traces produced by mouse fibroblasts is given. Our observations, together with the cell adhesion literature suggest that the amount of released material, its extent and chemical and structural properties d epend on cell type and physiology as well as other external influences . Cell traces in combination with the adhesion pattern of the donor ce ll should give information about the activity and physiological status of individual cells, the mechanisms of cell locomotion and the molecu lar composition of the donor cell membrane, The traces might possibly be used as submicron elements for passive electric characterisation an d biotechnological applications.