http://hdl.handle.net/10027/158 Thu, 23 May 2013 17:16:35 GMT 2013-05-23T17:16:35Z http://hdl.handle.net/10027/7564 The extracellular matrix microtopography drives critical changes in cellular motility and Rho A activity in colon cancer cells Rapier, Rebecca; Huq, Jameela; Vishnubhotla, Ramana; Bulic, Marinka; Perrault, Cecile M.; Metlushko, Vitali; Cho, Michael; Tay, Roger T. S.; Glover, Sarah C. We have shown that the microtopography (mT) underlying colon cancer changes as a tumor de-differentiates. We distinguish the well-differentiated mT based on the increasing number of "pits" and poorly differentiated mT on the basis of increasing number of "posts." We investigated Rho A as a mechanosensing protein using mT features derived from those observed in the ECM of colon cancer. We evaluated Rho A activity in less-tumorogenic (Caco-2 E) and more tumorigenic (SW620) colon cancer cell-lines on microfabricated pits and posts at 2.5 mu m diameter and 200 nm depth/height. In Caco-2 E cells, we observed a decrease in Rho A activity as well as in the ratio of G/F actin on surfaces with either pits or posts but despite this low activity, knockdown of Rho A led to a significant decrease in confined motility suggesting that while Rho A activity is reduced on these surfaces it still plays an important role in controlling cellular response to barriers. In SW620 cells, we observed that Rho A activity was greatest in cells plated on a post microtopography which led to increased cell motility, and an increase in actin cytoskeletal turnover. Post print version of article may differ from published version. The definitive version is available through BioMed Central at DOI: 10.1186/1475-2867-10-24 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10027/7564 2010-07-28T05:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10027/141 Strategic Plan for the UIC College of Engineering For 2010 University of Illinois at Chicago. College of Engineering; Banerjee, Prith Fri, 30 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10027/141 2006-06-30T05:00:00Z