title: Using magnets and magnetic beads to dissect signaling pathways activated by mechanical tension applied to cells.
abstract: Cellular tension has implications in normal biology and pathology. Membrane adhesion receptors serve as conduits for mechanotransduction that lead to cellular responses. Ligand-conjugated magnetic beads are a useful tool in the study of how cells sense and respond to tension. Here we detail methods for their use in applying tension to cells and strategies for analyzing the results. We demonstrate the methods by analyzing mechanotransduction through VE-cadherin on endothelial cells using both permanent magnets and magnetic tweezers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, United States. Electronic address: robin_marjoram@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Marjoram
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR_S1087, CNRS UMR_C6291, L'institut du Thorax, Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guilluy
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, United States; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, United States; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, United States.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burridge
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000099152:Cadherin 5
keywords: Endothelial cell; Mechanotransduction; Tension; VE-cadherin