Figure 6.
Vinculin localization to FAs is regulated by cell area and substrate stiffness. VSMCs were cultured on 25 and 135 kPa substrates for 48 h in 10% Fn-depleted FBS, prepermeabilized and fixed, then stained for vinculin, the cell nucleus, and f-actin fibers. (A–C) FAs were quantified with custom MATLAB software. (D) Individual FA size plotted against cell size on 25 and 135 kPa substrates. (E) Individual FA size as a function of substrate stiffness. (F) FA number per cell plotted against cell size on 25 and 135 kPa substrates. Sample cell (A–C) on 25 kPa substrate; data were collected from four biological replicates, with 10–15 cells imaged per condition.