{"64195":{"#nid":"64195","#data":{"type":"event","title":"Molecular Engineering and Live Cell Imaging for Studying Cell-Environment Interactions","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAbstract:\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESignaling molecules and their activities are well coordinated in\nspace and time to regulate cellular functions in response to mechanical\nand chemical microenvironment. Based on fluorescent resonance energy\ntransfer (FRET), we have developed several genetically encoded\nbiosensors for detecting the spatiotemporal activities of signaling\nmolecules, including Src, Rac1, MT1-MMP, and Calcium. A Rac biosensor\nrevealed that the Rac activity in cells constrained on micropatterned\nextracellular-matrix surface is polarized with higher activity\nconcentrated at the leading edge of migrating cells upon PDGF\nstimulation, whereas Src activities in these cells displayed global\nactivation patterns without obvious polarity. Our calcium biosensor\nalso allowed the revelation that there is a spontaneous Ca2+\noscillation in human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs) both inside the\ncytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The substrate stiffness where\nHMSCs are seeded can significantly affect this Ca2+ oscillation, in a\nfashion dependent on the RhoA signaling pathway. We have further\ndeveloped a FAK FRET biosensor and targeted it into lipid rafts or\nnon-rafts of plasma membrane by lipid modifications. Upon cell adhesion\non extracellular matrix proteins or stimulation by platelet-derived\ngrowth factor, the raft-targeting FAK biosensor showed a surprisingly\nstronger FRET response than that at non-rafts, suggesting that the FAK\nactivation mainly occurs at lipid rafts. Further experiments revealed\nthat the PDGF-induced FAK activation at rafts is mediated by the kinase\nactivity of Src, whereas FAK activation induced by adhesion is\nindependent of, and in fact essential for the Src activation. These\nresults suggest that FAK is activated at rafts with distinct activation\nmechanisms in response to different physiological stimuli. In summary,\nour novel FRET biosensors in combination with tools in\nnano-biotechnology and bio-photonics have made it possible to monitor\nkey signaling cascades in live cells with subcellular and dynamic\ncharacterization when cells interact with their physical\/chemical\nmicroenvironment.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBioengineering Seminar Series\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYingxiao Wang, PhD - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign\n\u003Cem\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMolecular Engineering and Live Cell Imaging for Studying Cell-Environment Interactions\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Yingxiao Wang, PhD - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign"}],"uid":"27195","created_gmt":"2011-02-11 10:48:59","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 01:54:05","author":"Colly Mitchell","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2011-03-01T10:00:00-05:00","event_time_end":"2011-03-01T11:00:00-05:00","event_time_end_last":"2011-03-01T11:00:00-05:00","gmt_time_start":"2011-03-01 15:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2011-03-01 16:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2011-03-01 16:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/imaging.bioen.illinois.edu\/yingxiao_wang\/","title":"Wang Lab"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"11877","name":"BioE Seminar"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1795","name":"Seminar\/Lecture\/Colloquium"}],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFaculty Host: Andres Garcia 404-894-9384\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}