31 - Biological and Life Sciences - Muhammad Ali Abdullah
Faculty Mentor: Diane Tucker and Joe L. March
Poster Title: Hyperadhesion in Desmosomes Induces Decrease in Plaque-to-Plaque Distance
Abstract:
Hyperadhesion in Desmosomes Induces Decrease in Plaque-to-Plaque Distance
Paper by: Stahley, S. N., Bartle, E. I., Atkinson, C. E., Kowalcyzk, A. P., & Mattheyses, A.L.
Poster by: Muhammad Ali Abdullah, Olivia Johnston, Suhas Kellampalli
Research Liaison: Rose Albert
Principal Investigator: Alexa L. Mattheyses
Desmosomes are junctions between two cells that contribute to intercellular adhesion, and so are found predominantly in high mechanical stress tissues such as epithelial and cardiac tissue. Formed of cadherin and plaque proteins, desmosomes act as a connector between cells, with the plaque proteins linking to the cytoskeleton and the cadherin connecting adjacent plaques. Diseases like cardiomyopathies, epidermal fragility, and cancers have disordered desmosome structure. It is known that desmosomes can exist in calcium dependent, adhesive states and calcium independent, hyperadhesive states. However, the structural changes in the desmosomes caused by these different states are not well known. In this study, desmosomes were analyzed using dSTORM to determine how different adhesive states affect plaque-to-plaque distance within the desmosome. Desmosomes were induced into hyperadhesion by an overexpression of Plakophilin-1 plaque protein. Researchers used dSTORM imaging to indicate desmosome plaque-to-plaque distance in a hyperadhesive state was significantly shorter than in an adhesive state. The results of this paper could lead to further study in human skin sections to consider the changes that occur in vivo, resulting in a better understanding of plaque-to-plaque distance alterations and desmosome function in relevant diseases.