Micropatterned Binary Nanoarrays as a Tool to Determine the Spatial Requirement of Heterotypic Integrin Clusters

• Applicant: Dr. Julien Polleux
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 220694966

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that bind to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and sense and modulate the physical properties of the extracellular environment, which in turn regulates spatio-temporally the fate of cells. Although new technologies and analytical tools tremendously improved our understandings of integrin functions, the investigation of cell activity derived from a particular integrin or the cooperation between different integrins remains challenging. In this proposal, we first focus on dissecting selectively and quantitatively individual functions of two essential fibronectin-binding integrins, α5β1 and αvβ3. To achieve this, we will routinely use hexagonally organized gold nanoarrays as a template to control the density of immobilized integrin-selective peptidomimetics. Additionally, we will micropattern gold nanoarrays to confine the shape of cells in order to reliably study spreading, contractility and migration with phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy. Finally, we will design micropatterned gold – titanium dioxide binary nanoarrays able to template two different integrin-binding ligands at defined densities. With the mean of such substrates, we aim at tailoring the cell response by engaging simultaneously and quantitatively α5β1 and αvβ3 to characterize the additive or synergistic nature of the integrin crosstalk.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants