
Open access
Date
2013-04-15Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
Substrate-exploring functions of filopodia were previously suggested based on cell studies on flat surfaces, but their role in topography sensing especially within nanofibrillar environments remained elusive. Here we have grown highly flexible hairy silicon nanowires on micropatterned islands on otherwise flat glass surfaces and coated them both with the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein fibronectin. This allowed us to visualize how filopodia steer fundamental cell functions such as cell adhesion, spreading, migration and division in the absence of lamellipodia. Shortly after seeding, transient filopodia protrude from the still spherical cells. Once filopodia contact nanowires, they bend and align them, while most filopodia peel off from flat surfaces. A zipping mechanism regulated by traction forces is proposed to explain how force-induced changes in filopodia-substrate contact angles enable topography sensing, including the still elusive phenomenon of contact guidance. Filopodia thus play a central role in steering transient topographic preferences. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000065727Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Scientific ReportsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupSubject
Nanofabrication and nanopatterning; Extracellular matrix; Filopodia; NanowiresOrganisational unit
03640 - Vogel, Viola / Vogel, Viola
More
Show all metadata