@article{cirit_krajcovic_choi_welf_horwitz_haugh_2010, title={Stochastic Model of Integrin-Mediated Signaling and Adhesion Dynamics at the Leading Edges of Migrating Cells}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1553-7358"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000688}, abstractNote={Productive cell migration requires the spatiotemporal coordination of cell adhesion, membrane protrusion, and actomyosin-mediated contraction. Integrins, engaged by the extracellular matrix (ECM), nucleate the formation of adhesive contacts at the cell's leading edge(s), and maturation of nascent adhesions to form stable focal adhesions constitutes a functional switch between protrusive and contractile activities. To shed additional light on the coupling between integrin-mediated adhesion and membrane protrusion, we have formulated a quantitative model of leading edge dynamics combining mechanistic and phenomenological elements and studied its features through classical bifurcation analysis and stochastic simulation. The model describes in mathematical terms the feedback loops driving, on the one hand, Rac-mediated membrane protrusion and rapid turnover of nascent adhesions, and on the other, myosin-dependent maturation of adhesions that inhibit protrusion at high ECM density. Our results show that the qualitative behavior of the model is most sensitive to parameters characterizing the influence of stable adhesions and myosin. The major predictions of the model, which we subsequently confirmed, are that persistent leading edge protrusion is optimal at an intermediate ECM density, whereas depletion of myosin IIA relieves the repression of protrusion at higher ECM density.}, number={2}, journal={PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY}, publisher={Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, author={Cirit, Murat and Krajcovic, Matej and Choi, Colin K. and Welf, Erik S. and Horwitz, Alan F. and Haugh, Jason M.}, editor={Asthagiri, Anand R.Editor}, year={2010}, month={Feb} }
 @article{weiger_wang_krajcovic_melvin_rhoden_haugh_2009, title={Spontaneous phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling dynamics drive spreading and random migration of fibroblasts}, volume={122}, ISSN={["1477-9137"]}, DOI={10.1242/jcs.037564}, abstractNote={During directed cell migration (chemotaxis), cytoskeletal dynamics are stimulated and spatially biased by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and other signal transduction pathways. Live-cell imaging using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy revealed that, in the absence of soluble cues, 3′-phosphoinositides are enriched in a localized and dynamic fashion during active spreading and random migration of mouse fibroblasts on adhesive surfaces. Surprisingly, we found that PI3K activation is uncoupled from classical integrin-mediated pathways and feedback from the actin cytoskeleton. Inhibiting PI3K significantly impairs cell motility, both in the context of normal spreading and when microtubules are dissociated, which induces a dynamic protrusion phenotype as seen by TIRF in our cells. Accordingly, during random migration, 3′-phosphoinositides are frequently localized to regions of membrane protrusion and correlate quantitatively with the direction and persistence of cell movement. These results underscore the importance of localized PI3K signaling not only in chemotaxis but also in basal motility/migration of fibroblasts.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE}, publisher={The Company of Biologists}, author={Weiger, Michael C. and Wang, Chun-Chao and Krajcovic, Matej and Melvin, Adam T. and Rhoden, John J. and Haugh, Jason M.}, year={2009}, month={Feb}, pages={313–323} }