UBTD1 regulates cell mechanical properties via RhoA activation (A-E, G-H) DU145 cells or (F) A549 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips.Figure 1DU145 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. (A) The scatter plot shows the apparent Young's moduli obtained by AFM analysis. Bars represent the median values of the distributions. The immunoblot shows UBTD1 siRNA knock-down efficiency. DU145 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. (B) Immunoblots (left) and quantification (right) show levels of GST-ROCK associated GTP-bound RhoA (RhoA-GTP) and total RhoA in lysates (RhoA) in confluent cells. Immunoblot of UBTD1 shows the level of siRNA depletion. DU145 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. (C) Representative confocal images of focal adhesion (paxillin) and actin cytoskeleton (phalloidin) and outlines of focal adhesions using threshold-based image. Immunoblot of UBTD1 shows the level of siRNA-mediated depletion. (D) Cell area, number and area of focal adhesion were quantified (ImageJ) using the analysis as shown (C). DU145 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. Sub-confluent DU145 (E) cells were seeded on two matrices of different stiffnesses (4 and 12 kPa). Representative heat map (left) and quantification (right) showing contractile forces generate by cells plated on 4kPa or 12kPa hydrogel. A549 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. Sub-confluent A549 (F) cells were seeded on two matrices of different stiffnesses (4 and 12 kPa). Representative heat map (left) and quantification (right) showing contractile forces generate by cells plated on 4kPa or 12kPa hydrogel. DU145 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. (G) Confluent DU145 cells were seeded on 12 kPa matrix. Representative heat map (left) and quantification (right) showing contractile forces generate by cells plated on 12kPa hydrogel. DU145 cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA (control, siCTRL; UBTD1: siUBTD1pool or siUBTD1single1 or single2) for 24 h and plated on fibronectin-coated glass coverslips. (H) Representative confocal images of YAP and UBTD1 localization on two matrices of different stiffness. DU145 cells were grown on collagen/acrylamide-coated glass coverslips (soft) or directly on glass coverslips (stiff). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (Blue) on the MERGE image.