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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
09:44
In Vitro Evaluation of Oncogenic Transformation in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells
Published on: September 24, 2020
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Mechanical mismatch between Ras transformed and untransformed epithelial cells
Corinne Gullekson1, Gheorghe Cojoc, Mirjam Schürmann
1Centre for Interdisciplinary NanoPhysics, Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, 598 King Edward, Ottawa, ON, K1N5N5 Canada. a@pellinglab.net.
Soft Matter
|November 2, 2017
Summary
Oncogenic Ras alters cell mechanics, stiffening adherent cells and softening suspended cells. This effect is mediated by ROCK activity, highlighting its role in Ras-driven cellular changes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The actin cytoskeleton is crucial for cell mechanics and is altered during cell transformation.
- Ras proteins are key regulators of cell signaling pathways involved in cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanical properties of cells expressing oncogenic Ras (RasV12).
- To determine the role of ROCK signaling in Ras-mediated changes in cell mechanics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure cell stiffness.
- Employed a microfluidic optical stretcher to assess mechanical properties of suspended cells.
- Inhibited Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) using Y-27632 to evaluate its role.
Main Results:
- Adherent cells expressing RasV12 exhibited increased stiffness.
- Suspended cells expressing RasV12 showed decreased stiffness (softening).
- Inhibition of ROCK reversed the stiffening effect in adherent RasV12 cells.
Conclusions:
- RasV12 expression differentially affects the mechanics of adherent and suspended cells.
- ROCK activation by Ras plays a critical role in modulating cell mechanics.
- ROCK activity mediates opposing effects on cell mechanics in adhered versus suspended states.
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