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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
Published on: May 5, 2022
Spatiotemporal analysis of F-actin polymerization with micropillar arrays reveals synchronization between adhesion
Sarit Hollander1, Yuanning Guo2, Haguy Wolfenson2
1Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
Abstract:
We repurposed micropillar arrays to quantify spatiotemporal inter-adhesion communication. Following the observation that integrin adhesions formed around pillar tops we relied on the precise repetitive spatial control of the pillars to reliably monitor F-actin dynamics in mouse embryonic fibroblasts as a model for spatiotemporal adhesion-related intracellular signaling. Using correlation-based analyses, we revealed localized information flows propagating between adjacent pillars that were integrated over space and time to synchronize the adhesion dynamics within the entire cell. Probing the mechanical regulation, we discovered that stiffer pillars or partial actomyosin contractility inhibition enhances inter-adhesion F-actin synchronization, and that inhibition of Arp2/3, but not formin, reduces synchronization. Our results suggest that adhesions can communicate and highlight the potential of using micropillar arrays as a tool to measure spatiotemporal intracellular signaling.
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