Image analysis for the quantitative comparison of stress fibers and focal adhesions

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 30;9(9):e107393. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107393. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Actin stress fibers (SFs) detect and transmit forces to the extracellular matrix through focal adhesions (FAs), and molecules in this pathway determine cellular behavior. Here, we designed two different computational tools to quantify actin SFs and the distribution of actin cytoskeletal proteins within a normalized cellular morphology. Moreover, a systematic cell response comparison between the control cells and those with impaired actin cytoskeleton polymerization was performed to demonstrate the reliability of the tools. Indeed, a variety of proteins that were present within the string beginning at the focal adhesions (vinculin) up to the actin SFs contraction (non-muscle myosin II (NMMII)) were analyzed. Finally, the software used allows for the quantification of the SFs based on the relative positions of FAs. Therefore, it provides a better insight into the cell mechanics and broadens the knowledge of the nature of SFs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Shape
  • Focal Adhesions / metabolism
  • Focal Adhesions / ultrastructure*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Protein Transport
  • Stress Fibers / metabolism
  • Stress Fibers / ultrastructure*

Grants and funding

R.A. is recipient of ISCIII a Consolidation Program grant. This work was supported by the UTE project CIMA (to R.A.), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, ISCIII (project PS09/00393) (to R.A.) and the European Research Council (ERC) through project ERC-2012-StG 306751 and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (DPI2012-38090-C03-01) (J.M.G.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.