Open AccessQuantitative analysis of sensitivity to a Wnt3a gradient in determination of the pole‐to‐pole axis of mitotic cells by using a microfluidic device
Author(s) -
Hiraiwa Takumi,
Nakai Yuichiro,
Yamada Takahiro G.,
Tanimoto Ryuichi,
Kimura Hiroshi,
Matsumoto Yoshinori,
Miki Norihisa,
Hiroi Noriko,
Funahashi Akira
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
febs open bio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.718
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2211-5463
DOI - 10.1002/2211-5463.12525
Subject(s) - mitosis , wnt3a , cell division , microbiology and biotechnology , centrosome , sensitivity (control systems) , cell , spindle apparatus , asymmetric cell division , division (mathematics) , biology , cell cycle , signal transduction , wnt signaling pathway , biochemistry , electronic engineering , engineering , arithmetic , mathematics
Proper determination of the cell division axis is essential during development. Wnt3a is a known regulator of the cell division axis; however, the sensitivity of cells to Wnt3a signalling and its role in determining the cell division axis have not been measured to date. To address this gap, we took advantage of the asymmetric distribution of outer dense fibre 2 (ODF2/cenexin) proteins on centrosomes in dividing cells. To precisely quantify the sensitivity of cells to Wnt3a signalling, we developed a microfluidic cell culture device, which can produce a quantitative gradient of signalling molecules. We confirmed that mitotic SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells could detect a 2.5 ~ 5 × 10 −3 n m ·μm −1 Wnt3a concentration gradient and demonstrated that this gradient is sufficient to affect the determination of the pole‐to‐pole axis of cell division during the later stages of mitosis.