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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Optogenetic Inhibition of Rho1-Mediated Actomyosin Contractility Coupled with Measurement of Epithelial Tension in Drosophila Embryos

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Published on: April 14, 2023

The role of RhoA kinase (ROCK) in cell alignment on nanofibers.

Mohammad Nahid Andalib¹, Jeong Soon Lee, Ligyeom Ha

¹Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.

Acta Biomaterialia

|April 17, 2013

Summary

RhoA kinase (ROCK) signaling influences how mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) align and elongate on nanofibers. ROCK knockdown or inhibition reduced cell length and area, offering insights into cell-nanofiber interactions.

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Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells

Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells

Published on: March 9, 2012

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Cell Biology
Tissue Engineering

Background:

Nanofibers show promise as tissue engineering scaffolds.
The molecular mechanisms of cell response to nanofibers are not fully understood.
RhoA kinase (ROCK) signaling is a key pathway for cell tension.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of RhoA kinase (ROCK) in regulating cell alignment and morphology on nanofibers.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cell sensing and response to nanofiber topography.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of aligned and randomly distributed poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers.
Culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on nanofibers, flat films, and with ROCK knockdown (shRNA) or inhibition (Y-27632).
Assessment of cell orientation, spreading area, and ROCK expression via immunoblotting.

Main Results:

MSCs aligned well on aligned nanofibers and showed increased spreading on random nanofibers.
ROCK expression was higher in cells on aligned nanofibers.
ROCK knockdown or inhibition reduced cell elongation and area, though alignment persisted.

Conclusions:

ROCK signaling plays a role in cell elongation and morphological changes on nanofibers.
While ROCK is not essential for initial cell alignment, it influences cell shape.
Findings provide mechanistic insights into nanofiber-mediated cell behavior.