Student Work

The Role of Mechanical Stress on Calcium Signals

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Muscle cells contain protein structures on the plasma membranes called caveoale which act like springs that flatten and recoil when the cell is stretched.In my project, I tested the idea that stretching cells reduces Ca2+ signals in muscle cells. Specifically, when smooth muscle cells (A10) undergo mechanical bi-directional stretch, there is a structural change of caveolae that leads to reduction in Ca2+ signaling when Gaq is activated.The Ca2+ response in A10 cells was also recorded in the form of cell density.When the cells had a large amount of cell-cell contacts, the number of caveolae was much greater and the effect on Ca2+ was more pronounced.Taken together, these results indicate that the deformation of caveolae with mechanical stress may allow cells to regulate normal Ca2+ signals.

  • This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.
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Identifier
  • E-project-032317-221444
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Year
  • 2017
Date created
  • 2017-03-23
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Last modified
  • 2023-11-03

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