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A spatiotemporal characterization method for the dynamic cytoskeleton.

ABSTRACT: The significant gap between quantitative and qualitative understanding of cytoskeletal function is a pressing problem; microscopy and labeling techniques have improved qualitative investigations of localized cytoskeleton behavior, whereas quantitative analyses of whole cell cytoskeleton networks remain challenging. Here we present a method that accurately quantifies cytoskeleton dynamics. Our approach digitally subdivides cytoskeleton images using interrogation windows, within which box-counting is used to infer a fractal dimension (Df ) to characterize spatial arrangement, and gray value intensity (GVI) to determine actin density. A partitioning algorithm further obtains cytoskeleton characteristics from the perinuclear, cytosolic, and periphery cellular regions. We validated our measurement approach on Cytochalasin-treated cells using transgenically modified dermal fibroblast cells expressing fluorescent actin cytoskeletons. This method differentiates between normal and chemically disrupted actin networks, and quantifies rates of cytoskeletal degradation. Furthermore, GVI distributions were found to be inversely proportional to Df , having several biophysical implications for cytoskeleton formation/degradation. We additionally demonstrated detection sensitivity of differences in Df and GVI for cells seeded on substrates with varying degrees of stiffness, and coated with different attachment proteins. This general approach can be further implemented to gain insights on dynamic growth, disruption, and structure of the cytoskeleton (and other complex biological morphology) due to biological, chemical, or physical stimuli. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SUBMITTER: Alhussein G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5132051 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A spatiotemporal characterization method for the dynamic cytoskeleton.

Alhussein Ghada G Shanti Aya A Farhat Ilyas A H IA Timraz Sara B H SB Alwahab Noaf S A NS Pearson Yanthe E YE Martin Matthew N MN Christoforou Nicolas N Teo Jeremy C M JC

Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.J.) 20160427 5

The significant gap between quantitative and qualitative understanding of cytoskeletal function is a pressing problem; microscopy and labeling techniques have improved qualitative investigations of localized cytoskeleton behavior, whereas quantitative analyses of whole cell cytoskeleton networks remain challenging. Here we present a method that accurately quantifies cytoskeleton dynamics. Our approach digitally subdivides cytoskeleton images using interrogation windows, within which box-counting ...[more]

PMID: 27015595

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Project description:China's temperate glaciers have a relatively warm and humid climate and hydrothermal conditions at low latitudes. Temperate glaciers, however, have larger ablation, higher ice temperatures, relatively fast movement speeds, and a significant sliding process at the bottom. As a result, these glaciers are more significantly affected by climate change. On the basis of topographic maps, aerial photography, and Landsat OLI images, and combined with existing research results, this paper systematically analyzed the temporal and spatial dynamic characteristics of typical temperate glaciers. The results are as follows: (1) From the 1950s to the 1970s, compared with other types of glaciers, temperate glaciers showed strong retreat and ablation trends in terms of area, length, speed, and mass balance. (2) The reduction rates of glacier areas of Kangri Garpo, Dagu Snow Mountain, Yulong Snow Mountain (YSM), and Meili Snow Mountain (MSM) in China's temperate glacier areas all exceeded 38%, which was far above the national average of 18% from the 1950s to the 2010s. (3) The recent length retreat rates of Azha Glacier, Kangri Garpo, and Mingyong Glacier, MSM, Hailuogou Glacier (HG), Gongga Snow Mountain (GSM), and Baishui River Glacier No. 1 (BRGN1), YSM were above 22 m/a, which was faster than the retreat rates of other regions. (4) Consistent with glacier retreat, temperate glaciers also had a faster ice flow speed. The ice flow velocities of the BGN1, HG, Parlung River Glaciers No. 4 and 94, and Nyainqêntanglha were, respectively, 6.33-30.78 m/a, 41-205 m/a, 15.1-86.3 m/a, and 7.5-18.4 m/a, which was much faster than the velocity of other types of glaciers. (5) Mass loss of temperate glaciers was most dramatic during the observation period (1959-2015). The annual mass balance from eight typical temperate glaciers fluctuated between - 2.48 and 0.44 m w.e., and the annual average change rate of mass balance (- 0.037 m w.e./a) was much higher than that in China (- 0.015 m w.e./a, p < 0.0001) and globally (- 0.013 m w.e./a, p < 0.0001).

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A spatiotemporal characterization method for the dynamic cytoskeleton.

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A spatiotemporal characterization method for the dynamic cytoskeleton.

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