NIH R01 · 2024
Single-component optogenetic tools to bidirectionally control RhoA in mechanotransduction
ABSTRACT RhoA, a member of the Rho-family of small GTPases, centrally regulates actin organization and actomyosin contractility. RhoA dynamics coordinate actin stress fiber formation, which ultimately determines how cells generate cytoskeletal tension to transmit mechanical forces to/from neighboring cell-cell junctions and focal adhesions with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, new tools to control the dynamics of RhoA signaling may enhance understanding of how cells make decisions in response to mechanical stimuli. We propose to create optogenetic tools for bi-directional (activation and inactivation) control over RhoA signaling, systematically characterize their function through a set…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.