In addition to its role in the regulation of sex-related processes through gene transcription, 17�-estradiol (E2) also activates estrogen receptors on the plasma membranes to elicit non-nuclear signaling. Approaches have been developed to distinguish experimentally non-genomic pathways from genomic ones, but the mechanism of the interactions between E2 and estrogen receptors on the plasma membrane remains unclear. We designed photoactivable estradiol-tethered surfaces to monitor spatial and temporal aspects of the E2 non-genomic signaling. A micropatterned glass substrate with 2-�m gold spots was prepared by photolithographic techniques. The gold regions were functionalized with E2 and a photocleavable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), whereas the glass area was functionalized with the cell-adhesive cRGD peptide via a PEG-silane. This surface design permits E2 to become accessible only after photocleavage of the bulky PEG chains. The feasibility of this photoactivation strategy was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance measurements, complemented with cellular studies.

Photoactivatable estradiol-tethered surfaces for the study of estrogen non-genomic signaling pathways

245th National Meeting (2013)

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