Understanding extracellular matrix stiffness dependent regulation of Golgi organisation and function in anchorage-independent breast cancer cells.

Abstract

Integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesion is known to regulate cell growth and survival, which is deregulated in transformed cancer cells that acquire the ability to grow without adhesion, becoming anchorage-independent. Previous studies from the lab have established cell-matrix adhesion to be a vital regulator of Golgi organization and function. Studies have also shown that the Golgi organization is altered in cancer cells, which could affect cell-surface protein glycosylation, intracellular trafficking kinetics, and cargo sorting. Hence, here we have tried to understand the importance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness in regulating the Golgi organization and function and the role of differentially expressed genes in regulating this, especially in breast cancer cells because they are known for their stiffening and Mechanosensing. Therefore, our study has tried to understand the role AXL could have in regulating the cell spreading and Golgi organization and function in the matrix stiffness-dependent manner in breast cancer cells.