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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Quantitative Measurement of Invadopodia-mediated Extracellular Matrix Proteolysis in Single and Multicellular Contexts
Published on: August 27, 2012
Protocol for analyzing invadopodia formation and gelatin degradation
Weijian Meng1, Qingwen Huang1, Rui Zhang1
1Molecular Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, P.R. China; Department of GI Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, P.R. China.
Invadopodia are actin-rich protrusions on the tumor cell membrane that degrade the extracellular matrix and play a crucial role in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Here, we present a protocol to examine invadopodia's ability to form and degrade the extracellular matrix during tumor invasion and metastasis. We detail the procedure for using immunofluorescence staining to indirectly detect invadopodia formation and assess their extracellular matrix degradation capability via the gelatin degradation assay. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Huang et al.1.
Invadopodia are actin-rich protrusions on the tumor cell membrane that degrade the extracellular matrix and play a crucial role in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Here, we present a protocol to examine invadopodia's ability to form and degrade the extracellular matrix during tumor invasion and metastasis. We detail the procedure for using immunofluorescence staining to indirectly detect invadopodia formation and assess their extracellular matrix degradation capability via the gelatin degradation assay. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Huang et al.1.
