Name: polyacrylamide gels for invadopodia and traction force assays on cancer cells
Uploaded: 2015-01-04T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Polyacrylamide Gels for Invadopodia and Traction Force Assays on Cancer Cells at JoVE.com

The authors have nothing to disclose.

1. Preparation of Glass Coverslips for PAAs
<ol>
	<li>Clean 12 mm coverslips with low lint wipes.</li>
	<li>Flame the 12 mm coverslips and the 14 mm coverslip in the microwell of each 35 mm glass bottom dish by passing them through a Bunsen burner flame using tweezers.</li>
	<li>Treat the microwells with 200 &#181;l of 0.1 N NaOH for 5 min at room temperature.</li>
	<li>Aspirate and air dry the microwells for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Treat the microwells with 50-100 &#181;l of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane for 10 min at room ...

<ol>
	<li>Paszek, M. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tensional+homeostasis+and+the+malignant+phenotype.">Tensional homeostasis and the malignant phenotype.</a> Cancer cell. 8, 241-254 (2005).</li><li>Jaalouk, D. E., Lammerding, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanotransduction+gone+awry.">Mechanotransduction gone awry.</a> Nature. 10, 63-73 (2009).</li><li>Paszek, M. J., Weaver, V. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+tension+mounts:+mechanics+meets+morphogenesis+and+malignancy.">The tension mounts: mechanics meets morphogenesis and malignancy.</a> Journal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia. 9, 325-342 (2004).</li><li>Parekh, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sensing+and+modulation+of+invadopodia+across+a+wide+range+of+rigidities.">Sensing and modulation of invadopodia across a wide range of rigidities.</a> Biophysical. 100, 573-582 (2011).</li><li>Jerrell, R. J., Parekh, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+traction+stresses+mediate+extracellular+matrix+degradation+by+invadopodia.">Cellular traction stresses mediate extracellular matrix degradation by invadopodia.</a> Acta biomaterialia. 10, 1886-1896 (2014).</li><li>Kraning-Rush, C. M., Califano, J. P., Reinhart-King, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+traction+stresses+increase+with+increasing+metastatic+potential.">Cellular traction stresses increase with increasing metastatic potential.</a> PLoS ONE. 7, e32572 (2012).</li><li>Haage, A., Nam, D. H., Ge, X., Schneider, I. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Matrix+metalloproteinase-14+is+a+mechanically+regulated+activator+of+secreted+MMPs+and+invasion.">Matrix metalloproteinase-14 is a mechanically regulated activator of secreted MMPs and invasion.</a> Biochemical and biophysical research communications. , (2014).</li><li>Haage, A., Schneider, I. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+contractility+and+extracellular+matrix+stiffness+regulate+matrix+metalloproteinase+activity+in+pancreatic+cancer+cells.">Cellular contractility and extracellular matrix stiffness regulate matrix metalloproteinase activity in pancreatic cancer cells.</a> FASEB J. , (2014).</li><li>Weaver, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Invadopodia:+specialized+cell+structures+for+cancer+invasion.">Invadopodia: specialized cell structures for cancer invasion.</a> Clinical &amp; experimental metastasis. 23, 97-105 (2006).</li><li>Weaver, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Invadopodia.">Invadopodia.</a> Curr Biol. 18, R362-364 (2008).</li><li>Bravo-Cordero, J. J., Hodgson, L., Condeelis, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directed+cell+invasion+and+migration+during+metastasis.">Directed cell invasion and migration during metastasis.</a> Current opinion in cell biology. 24, 277-283 (2012).</li><li>Alexander, N. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extracellular+matrix+rigidity+promotes+invadopodia+activity.">Extracellular matrix rigidity promotes invadopodia activity.</a> Curr Biol. 18, 1295-1299 (2008).</li><li>Barlow, W. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prospective+breast+cancer+risk+prediction+model+for+women+undergoing+screening+mammography.">Prospective breast cancer risk prediction model for women undergoing screening mammography.</a> Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 98, 1204-1214 (2006).</li><li>Chen, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Projecting+absolute+invasive+breast+cancer+risk+in+white+women+with+a+model+that+includes+mammographic+density.">Projecting absolute invasive breast cancer risk in white women with a model that includes mammographic density.</a> Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 98, 1215-1226 (2006).</li><li>Butcher, D. T., Alliston, T., Weaver, V. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+tense+situation:+forcing+tumour+progression.">A tense situation: forcing tumour progression.</a> Nature reviews. Cancer. 9, 108-122 (2009).</li><li>Zaman, M. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Migration+of+tumor+cells+in+3D+matrices+is+governed+by+matrix+stiffness+along+with+cell-matrix+adhesion+and+proteolysis.">Migration of tumor cells in 3D matrices is governed by matrix stiffness along with cell-matrix adhesion and proteolysis.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103, 10889-10894 (2006).</li><li>Provenzano, P. P., Inman, D. R., Eliceiri, K. W., Keely, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Matrix+density-induced+mechanoregulation+of+breast+cell+phenotype,+signaling+and+gene+expression+through+a+FAK-ERK+linkage.">Matrix density-induced mechanoregulation of breast cell phenotype, signaling and gene expression through a FAK-ERK linkage.</a> Oncogene. 28, 4326-4343 (2009).</li><li>Munevar, S., Wang, Y., Dembo, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Traction+force+microscopy+of+migrating+normal+and+H-ras+transformed+3T3+fibroblasts.">Traction force microscopy of migrating normal and H-ras transformed 3T3 fibroblasts.</a> Biophysical journal. 80, 1744-1757 (2001).</li><li>Rosel, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Up-regulation+of+Rho/ROCK+signaling+in+sarcoma+cells+drives+invasion+and+increased+generation+of+protrusive+forces.">Up-regulation of Rho/ROCK signaling in sarcoma cells drives invasion and increased generation of protrusive forces.</a> Mol Cancer Res. 6, 1410-1420 (2008).</li><li>Indra, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+in+vitro+correlation+of+mechanical+forces+and+metastatic+capacity.">An in vitro correlation of mechanical forces and metastatic capacity.</a> Phys Biol. 8, 015015 (2011).</li><li>Parekh, A., Weaver, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+cancer+invasiveness+by+the+physical+extracellular+matrix+environment.">Regulation of cancer invasiveness by the physical extracellular matrix environment.</a> Cell adhesion &amp; migration. 3, 288-292 (2009).</li><li>Weaver, A. M., Page, J. M., Guelcher, S. A., Parekh, A., Coutts, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology in Adhesion Protein Protocols. 1046, 171-189 (2013).</li><li>Samani, A., Zubovits, J., Plewes, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Elastic+moduli+of+normal+and+pathological+human+breast+tissues:+an+inversion-technique-based+investigation+of+169+samples).">Elastic moduli of normal and pathological human breast tissues: an inversion-technique-based investigation of 169 samples).</a> Physics in medicine and biology. 52, 1565-1576 (2007).</li><li>Wang, J. H., Lin, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+traction+force+and+measurement+methods.">Cell traction force and measurement methods.</a> Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology. 6, 361-371 (2007).</li><li>Dembo, M., Oliver, T., Ishihara, A., Jacobson, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+the+traction+stresses+exerted+by+locomoting+cells+with+the+elastic+substratum+method.">Imaging the traction stresses exerted by locomoting cells with the elastic substratum method.</a> Biophysical journal. 70, 2008-2022 (1996).</li><li>Dembo, M., Wang, Y. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stresses+at+the+cell-to-substrate+interface+during+locomotion+of+fibroblasts.">Stresses at the cell-to-substrate interface during locomotion of fibroblasts.</a> Biophysical journal. 76, 2307-2316 (1999).</li><li>Engler, A. J., Rehfeldt, F., Sen, S., Discher, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microtissue+elasticity:+measurements+by+atomic+force+microscopy+and+its+influence+on+cell+differentiation.">Microtissue elasticity: measurements by atomic force microscopy and its influence on cell differentiation.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 83, 521-545 (2007).</li><li>Kandow, C. E., Georges, P. C., Janmey, P. A., Beningo, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polyacrylamide+hydrogels+for+cell+mechanics:+steps+toward+optimization+and+alternative+uses.">Polyacrylamide hydrogels for cell mechanics: steps toward optimization and alternative uses.</a> Methods in cell biology. 83, 29-46 (2007).</li><li>Leach, J. B., Brown, X. Q., Jacot, J. G., Dimilla, P. A., Wong, J. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neurite+outgrowth+and+branching+of+PC12+cells+on+very+soft+substrates+sharply+decreases+below+a+threshold+of+substrate+rigidity.">Neurite outgrowth and branching of PC12 cells on very soft substrates sharply decreases below a threshold of substrate rigidity.</a> J Neural Eng. 4, 26-34 (2007).</li><li>Zhou, J., Kim, H. Y., Wang, J. H., Davidson, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Macroscopic+stiffening+of+embryonic+tissues+via+microtubules,+RhoGEF+and+the+assembly+of+contractile+bundles+of+actomyosin.">Macroscopic stiffening of embryonic tissues via microtubules, RhoGEF and the assembly of contractile bundles of actomyosin.</a> Development. 137, 2785-2794 (2010).</li><li>Buxboim, A., Rajagopal, K., Brown, A. E., Discher, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+deeply+cells+feel:+methods+for+thin+gels.">How deeply cells feel: methods for thin gels.</a> J Phys Condens Matter. 22, 194116 (2010).</li></ol>

We present a method for fabricating PAAs that can be used as the basis for invadopodia and traction force assays to correlate invasive and contractile cellular behaviors. While PAAs have long been used to look at rigidity effects on cells and calculate traction forces18,24,27, this protocol is the first to develop parallel assays based on PAAs with the same rigidities to correlate invasive and contractile cellular behaviors in response to matrix mechanical properties. Properly activating the coverslips of the ...

The rigidity of the tumor-associated ECM has been identified as a significant factor in driving malignant behavior by increasing actomyosin contractility1-3. While this effect has primarily been demonstrated with breast cancer cells, matrix rigidity has been found to alter invasive properties of cells derived from a variety of cancers4-8 suggesting that tumor rigidity may play a role in other type of cancers. To penetrate cross-linked tissues during invasive migration, cancer cells utilize actin-rich adhesive protrusions known as invadopodia that localize proteinases to focally degrade the ECM9. Invadopodia are considered a hallmark of invasive cells and have been implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis10,11. Previous work has shown that matrix rigidity can regulate invadopodia numbers and associated ECM degradation4,12 through myosin II activity and mechanosensitive proteins12. Given the correlation between tumor density and cancer aggressiveness13,14, these results suggest a mechanism by which cancer cells may respond to rigid tumor tissues to drive invasion and metastasis through actomyosin contractility.
In vitro ECM rigidity and in vivo tissue density have been shown to regulate invasive behavior of cancer cells1,15-17. While actomyosin contractility appears to be important in this process, current studies conflict as to whether metastatic capacity is correlated to increased or decreased contractile forces6,18-20. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether these forces directly mediate invadopodia activity21. We recently found that cancer cell contractile forces were dependent on matrix rigidity and were predictive of ECM degradation by invadopodia5. These results suggest that cellular forces may play an important role in cancer progression by mediating invadopodia activity in response to the mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment.
In order to correlate invasive and contractile properties of cancer cells5, we modified a protocol for creating PAAs with different rigidities that was previously used to investigate rigidity-dependent invadopodia activity4,12,22. By chemically crosslinking human plasma fibronectin throughout the PAAs, these modified hydrogels can be used as the basis for both invadopodia and traction force assays to ensure that cells experienced the same rigidities in both experiments5. In the invadopodia assays, the fibronectin provides a natural binding domain for gelatin to link the overlaid ECM to the PAAs to detect matrix degradation. In the traction force assays, the fibronectin provides a ligand for direct cellular adhesion to detect microsphere displacements used to calculate cellular traction forces. This method results in what we have called soft, hard, and rigid PAAs that are bound to glass bottom dishes and have elastic moduli, E, of 1,023, 7,307, and 22,692 Pa5 which span the range of mechanical properties reported for normal and cancerous tissues23.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>281778</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acrylamide (40%)</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>161-0140</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acrylic acid NHS ester</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A8060</td>
			<td>prepare fresh in fume hood 10 mg/ml in DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 546 phalloidin</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>A22283</td>
			<td>can also use rhodamine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ammonium persulfate</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>161-0700</td>
			<td>prepare fresh 10% solution in 1X PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aqua Poly/Mount</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>18606</td>
			<td>use six drops to fill microwells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BIS (2%)</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>161-0142</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td>RPI</td>
			<td>A30075</td>
			<td>make 3% for blocking solution in 1X PBS and store in 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverslips (12 mm)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-545-80</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dialysis tubing</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D9777</td>
			<td>pre-equilibrate in borate buffer for 15-30 min</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>Cellgro</td>
			<td>10-013-CV</td>
			<td>use to make invadopodia medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMSO</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D8418</td>
			<td>use to make acrylic acid NHS ester solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Epidermal growth factor</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>PHG0311</td>
			<td>use to make invadopodia medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>PHARMCO-AAPER</td>
			<td>E200</td>
			<td>dilute with ultrapure water to 70%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FBS</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>SH30070.03</td>
			<td>use to make invadopodia medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F7250</td>
			<td>protect from light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gelatin</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>00639</td>
			<td>typically make 10 ml of 1%sucrose/1% gelatin solution in PBS and store at 4 &#176;C (preheat PBS to dissolve gelatin easily)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass bottom dishes (35 mm coverslips)</td>
			<td>MatTek</td>
			<td>P35G-0-14-C</td>
			<td>coverslips are uncoated</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutaraldehyde (25%)</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>01909</td>
			<td>dilute with 1X PBS to 0.5%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>goat anti-mouse Alexa Fluor 633 antibody&#160;</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>A21050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human plasma fibronectin</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>33016-015</td>
			<td>add 5 ml of ultrapure water to make 1 mg/ml; aliquot in volumes based on use to avoid excessive freezing and thawing cycles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KH2PO4</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore</td>
			<td>PX-1565-1</td>
			<td>use to make 10X PBS stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>mouse anti-cortactin 4F11 antibody&#160;</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore</td>
			<td>05-180</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Na2HPO4</td>
			<td>EMD Millipore</td>
			<td>SX-0720-1</td>
			<td>use to make 10X PBS stock</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>RPI</td>
			<td>S23020</td>
			<td>use to make 10X PBS stock and borate buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaOH (1 N)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S2770</td>
			<td>dilute with ultrapure water to 0.1 N</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nu-Serum (low-protein serum)</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>355500</td>
			<td>use to make invadopodia medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Acros</td>
			<td>416785000</td>
			<td>typically make 10% stock in 1X PBS, prepare in fume hood, and add a few ml of strong NaOH to dissolve paraformaldehyde easily then bring back to pH 7.4 with strong HCl)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS (sterile)</td>
			<td>Cellgro</td>
			<td>21-040-CV</td>
			<td>use for cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640</td>
			<td>Cellgro</td>
			<td>10-040-CV</td>
			<td>use to make invadopodia medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium borohydride</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>452882</td>
			<td>prepare fresh in fume hood 1 mg/ml in 1X PBS&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>sodium metaborate tetrahydrate&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S0251</td>
			<td>use to make borate buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>RPI</td>
			<td>S24060</td>
			<td>typically make 10 ml of 1%sucrose/1% gelatin solution in PBS and store at 4 &#176;C (preheat PBS to dissolve gelatin easily)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TEMED</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>161-0800</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>A16046</td>
			<td>make 10% stock in 1X PBS and use as is for cell removal in traction force assay or dilute with 1X PBS for staining</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

polyacrylamide gels for invadopodia and traction force assays on cancer cells

Rigid tumor tissues have been strongly implicated in regulating cancer cell migration and invasion. Invasive migration through cross-linked tissues is facilitated by actin-rich protrusions called invadopodia that proteolytically degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadopodia activity has been shown to be dependent on ECM rigidity and cancer cell contractile forces suggesting that rigidity signals can regulate these subcellular structures through actomyosin contractility. Invasive and contractile properties of cancer cells can be correlated in vitro using invadopodia and traction force assays based on polyacrylamide gels (PAAs) of different rigidities. Invasive and contractile properties of cancer cells can be correlated in vitro using invadopodia and traction force assays based on polyacrylamide gels (PAAs) of different rigidities. While some variations between the two assays exist, the protocol presented here provides a method for creating PAAs that can be used in both assays and are easily adaptable to the user&#8217;s specific biological and technical needs.

In the invadopodia assay, invadopodia are typically identified by colocalization of markers like actin and cortactin at punctate structures within the cell body (Figure 1). Both actively degrading and non-degrading invadopodia can be counted and are differentiated by whether these structures are colocalized with black areas lacking fluorescent signal in the FITC-labeled fibronectin (Figure 1). Invadopodia are manually counted, and ECM degradation per cell is determined by manually thresh...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Polyacrylamide Gels for Invadopodia and Traction Force Assays on Cancer Cells at JoVE.com

Polyacrylamide Gels for Invadopodia and Traction Force Assays on Cancer Cells

Mechanical rigidity in the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in driving malignant behavior by increasing invadopodia activity and actomyosin contractility. Using polyacrylamide gels (PAAs), invadopodia and traction force assays can be utilized to study the invasive and contractile properties of cancer cells in response to matrix rigidity.

Rigid tumor tissues have been strongly implicated in regulating cancer cell migration and invasion. Invasive migration through cross-linked tissues is ...

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