4  -  Impact of keratin network regulation on migrating cells

Uniklinik RWTH Aachen (RWTH) - Germany

Supervisors: Rudolf Leube,  Reinhard Windoffer

Student: Anne Pora

This project investigates how the dynamic behaviour of the various cytoskeletal components is integrated in migrating cells and how the extracellular matrix affects this coordinated response. We will primarily concentrate on two approaches: (i) By providing matrices of different elasticity changes in adhesion (focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes) and cytoskeletal cycling in relation to cell migration will be assessed. (ii) By perturbing the activity of Rho GTPases at different temporal and spatial scales the coordinated regulation of actin and keratin dynamics will be investigated. These data will be analysed by new image processing algorithms and fitted into the comprehensive mathematical model for predicting migratory behaviour.