Using 3-D Super-Resolution Microscopy to Probe Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Their Microenvironment
Abstract
We report the achievements of the first year of our project. These achievements include the successful building of a super-resolution microscope that is capable of performing 2D and 3D Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) and Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM). With this microscope, we have imaged the spatial organization or clustering of the CCR7 receptor on the surface of MCF-7 breast cancer cells that had been cultured on gelatin substrates. This imaging is the first of its kind for breast cancer. We intend to correlate expression of this receptor and others with the extracellular matrix proteins within which we culture breast cancer cells. We have also begun work on an elegant method of a dynamically controllable synthetic matrix that is based on light-modulated proteins. We anticipate that in 2-3 months we will have the capability to synthesize, reversibly and controllably, 3D cell-culture environments who s mechanical and chemical properties can be modulated using near-IR light. This would be a significant accomplishment, as most synthetic matrix environments that are being developed are static and 2D. Ultimately, we will use this dynamically controllable synthetic matrix to study how the cellular microenvironment maintains and controls the hypothesized CD44+CD24-ALDH1+ cancer stem cell phenotype.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560892
Entities
People
- Lydia L Sohn
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley