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Project Theme 2: Visualizing Protein Motor Dynamics in Engineered Cells using Multiphoton Microscopy
Faculty Advisors:
Winkleman (MBS), Moghe (BME), Langrana (MAE), Kohn (CCB)
Crossdisciplinary Bridging:
Cell & Molecular Biology, Bioengineering & Bioimaging, Mechanical Engineering
The control of cell position, size, shape and interaction with the substrate and between cells is fundamental to the development of applications ranging from biosensors to tissue engineering. The shape and mechanical properties of cell are determined by the cytoskeletal filament system, principally the microtubules and microfilaments. These structural elements are linked to the extracellular environment through receptors that influence the growth, stability and viability of cells. Cell shape has been found to govern whether cells grow or die, and the degree of cell spreading can determine the rate of DNA synthesis and cell division (17, 18). Examples of the importance of cell shape to function abound in cardiac muscle, the major cell type of interest for this project (19). The number of cardiac muscle cells does not vary in hearts that are remodeled by volume and pressure overload or by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Instead, there are dramatic shape changes of the individual cardiomyocytes that have a profound effect on contractile physiology.
The examination of the effect of cell shape on cardiomyocyte performance is an important goal of one project associated with this training program. To directly visualize the remodeled cytoskeleton in living cells and to evaluate the effect of shape on contractile activity, we have designed and constructed genes that produce fluorescent homologues of the motor protein of cardiac muscle: e.g. GFP-tagged myosin heavy chain and myosin light chain (20). A key development for this project has been the transfer of the GFP-myosin genes into living cardiomyocytes using a virus mediated gene delivery system based on a replication defective human adenovirus. Using multiphoton fluorescence microscopy, we will study the myosin microorganization dynamics in contractile single and multicellular cardiomyocytes cultured on differentially compliant polymeric substrates and those exposed to varying fluid shear stresses.
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| Major Events |
IRIF:Megan Anderson Fri., 12/11 in BME-122, 12-1 pm
Enhanced Survival of Progeny of Neural Stem Cells in Response to Trace Eyeblink Conditioning
IRIF:Andrew LHuillier Thurs., 11/19 in BME-122, 12-1pm
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mediated Immunosuppression and IDO Metabolites
RESCHEDULED: Bioindustry Ethics Luncheon Part II w/ David Finegold (IGERT Fellows ONLY) 11/5/09
Part II of the Ethics Luncheon will be rescheduled to the Spring semester IRIF schedule.
IRIF:Dr. Debu Banerjee 10/22 in BME-122, 12-1 pm
Therapeutic applications of bone marrrow derived Mesenchmal stem cells
View all major events >>
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| More News |
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Congratulations!
IGERT Fellows Aaron Carlson and Mohamed Sadik took 1st and 3rd place (respectively) in the Poster Presentations at the 3rd Annual NJ Stem Cell Symposium held Thursday, September 24, 2009. Aaron Carlson's poster was titled “3-D Electrospun Polymer Scaffolds Promote Human Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Controlled Organization". Mohamed presented “Electroporation-Mediated Molecular Delivery”. Jonathan Davilla took 2nd place with “Identification of Biologically Functional microRNAs in Human ESCs by Ago2 Immunoprecipitation and Sequencing”. The keynote address was delivered by Hakim Djaballah, PhD of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Congratulations to Professor Ki-Bum Lee, Stem Cell IGERT Faculty in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, who is the recipient of the NIH Director’s New Innovator award, 2009.
The NIH Director's New Innovator Award program is designed specifically to support unusually creative early stage investigators with highly innovative research ideas at an early stage of their career.
IGERT fellow wins award:
Congratulations to IGERT fellow Nicole Plourde who was recipient of the 2009 Schering-Plough Innovation Award. She was presented with an awards plaque and a check for $5000 at a ceremony on Thursday, April 16th.
Chris Ricupero featured on Epigenie interview
Follow link here for full interview.
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