Cytoskeletal architecture in cell protrusions

• Grant number: 22/11556-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 05, 2023
• End date: February 15, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Rafael Martins Laurindo
• Grantee: Marina Coelho Feitosa
• Host Institution: Instituto do Coração Professor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini (INCOR). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Filopodia-like cellular protrusions are observed in most cell types and may carry protein condensates, which eventually detach from them as microvesicles. These processes are highly redox-regulated and our group has identified that protein disulfide isomerase-A1 (PDIA1), a thiol-redox chaperone from the endoplasmic reticulum, is an important component of these protein condensates. PDIA1 interacts with structures derived from the cytoslekeleton. Our aim is to characterize, in those filopodia, the structure of the cytoskeleton of actin, tubulin and intermediate filaments. For that, we will use antibodies coupled to fluorescent staining, analyzed by confocal microscopy. These structures will be comparatively assessed in at least 3 different cell types. It is expected that this investigation will lead to a better elucidation of the cytoskeleton architecture of these filopodia and their interaction with PDIA1, allowing one to infer potential functions. (AU)