In this video, we demonstrate the experimental techniques used to fabricate compliant, extracellular matrix (ECM) coated substrates suitable for cell culture, and which are amenable to traction force microscopy and observing effects of ECM stiffness on cell behavior.
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Method Article
Preparation of Complaint Matrices for Quantifying Cellular Contraction
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
The regulation of cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for cell migration and ECM remodeling. Focal adhesions are macromolecular assemblies that couple the contractile F-actin cytoskeleton to the ECM. This connection allows for the transmission of intracellular mechanical forces across the cell membrane to the underlying substrate. Recent work has shown the mechanical properties of the ECM regulate focal adhesion and F-actin morphology as well as numerous physiological processes, including cell differentiation, division, proliferation and migration. Thus, the use of cell culture substrates has become an increasingly prevalent method to precisely control and modulate ECM mechanical properties.
To quantify traction forces at focal adhesions in an adherent cell, compliant substrates are used in conjunction with high-resolution imaging and computational techniques in a method termed traction force microscopy (TFM). This technique relies on measurements of the local magnitude and direction of substrate deformations induced by cellular contraction. In combination with high-resolution fluorescence microscopy of fluorescently tagged proteins, it is possible to correlate cytoskeletal organization and remodeling with traction forces.
Here we present a detailed experimental protocol for the preparation of two-dimensional, compliant matrices for the purpose of creating a cell culture substrate with a well-characterized, tunable mechanical stiffness, which is suitable for measuring cellular contraction. These protocols include the fabrication of polyacrylamide hydrogels, coating of ECM proteins on such gels, plating cells on gels, and high-resolution confocal microscopy using a perfusion chamber. Additionally, we provide a representative sample of data demonstrating location and magnitude of cellular forces using cited TFM protocols.
Protocol
1. Activating the coverslip surface
- Coverslips (#1.5, 22x40 mm) are cleaned using a series of soap and ethanol washes in a previously described protocol (Waterman-Storer, 1998) to clean and remove dust.
- Place coverslips in a stainless steel holder rack, such that coverslips are spaced apart and not touching.
- In chemical fume hood (nitrile gloves and goggles recommended), dilute full strength 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane in isopropanol for a final concentration of 2% (2ml silane /100 ml isopropanol) to fill a square glass dish (~350ml volume). Due to reactivity with plastic, use a glass Pasteur pipette to apply 3-aminopropyltrimeth....
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Discussion
The procedure described here for the setup of a traction force microscopy (TFM) experiment, along with the implementation of computational tracking routines (Sabass et al., 2008), allows for the quantification of cellular forces with micron-scale spatial resolution. To optimize the experimental protocol, it is critical to form a pure and uniform gel substrate with uniform coating of ECM ligand. We discuss potential pitfalls below:
Non-uniform Gel Surface or Tears:
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Disclosures
No conflicts of interest declared.
Acknowledgements
We thank the lab of Ulrich Schwarz for computational tracking software used in quantification of cellular traction forces (Sabass et al., 2008). This work was supported by a Burroughs Wellcome Career Award and NIH Director's Pioneer Award (DP10D00354) to M.L. Gardel and Medical Scientist National Research Service Award (5 T32 GM07281) to S.P. Winter.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-aminopropyltrimethyoxysilane | Aldrich | 28, 177-8 | |
| 40% Acrylamide | Bio-Rad | 161-0140 | |
| 2% Bis-acrylamide | Fisher Scientific | BP1404 | |
| TEMED | Fisher Scientific | BP 150-20 | |
| Ammonium persulfate | Fisher Scientific | BP179 | |
| 40nm fluorescent micro-spheres | Invitrogen | F8789 | |
| Sulfo-SANPAH | Pierce, Thermo Scientific | 22589 | |
| Confocal imaging chamber (RC-30) | Warner Instruments | 64-0320 | |
| Coverslip spinner | Home made | NA | |
| Ultraviolet lamp CL1000 | UVP Inc. | 95-0228-01 | |
| Stainless steel rack | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 72239-04 | |
| acryloyl-X, SE (6-((acryloyl)amino)hexanoic acid) | Invitrogen | A-20770 | |
| Hydrazine hydrate | Sigma-Aldrich | 225819 | |
| Sodium meta-periodate | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 20504 | |
| Isopropanol | Fisher Scientific | A416-4 | |
| Fibronectin | Sigma-Aldrich | F2006 | |
| Collagen | BD Biosciences | 354236 | |
| Coverslips (#1.5) | Corning | 2940‐224 | |
| Glutaraldehyde | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 16120 | |
| Rain-X | SOPUS Products | www.rainx.com | |
| Acetic Acid | Acros Organics | 64-19-7 |
References
- Damljanovic, V., Lajerholm, B. C., Jacobson, K. Bulk and micropatterned conjugation of extracellular matrix proteins to characterized polyacrylamid substrates for cell mechanotransduction assays. Biotechniques. 39 (6), 847-851 (2005).
- Engler, A., Bacakova, L. N. ewman, Hategan, C., Griffin, A., M, D. D. ischer
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