Cytoskeletal remodeling is associated with a sustained shift toward Rho/formin activity.
a-b) In a, representative confocal images of the mid-section of BMDM stained with phalloidin (F-actin), 40 min after phagocytosis of PS-coated or IgG-opsonized beads. Insets are extended focus images showing PS-beads (cyan) or IgG-beads (magenta). In b, the normalized fluorescence intensity of the cortical F-actin was quantified in 3 independent experiments. c, f, i) Relative activity of indicated Rho GTPases measured by G-LISA in RAW 264.7 cells. In c and f, the cells were pretreated with the Rho activator, CN03, as specified in Methods. d-e) Confocal images of RAW 264.7 cells expressing dT-2xrGBD before and post-phagocytosis. In e the cortical dT-2xrGBD fluorescence, determined at a midsection plane, was normalized to the cytosolic fluorescence; data from 3 independent experiments. Where indicated, Rho was activated using CN03 or inactivated with CT04 as described in Methods. g-h) RAW 264.7 cells expressing PAK(PBD)-YFP before and after phagocytosis of indicated particles. In h the cortical PAK(PBD)-YFP signal was measured and normalized to the cytosolic fluorescence. j) Normalized cortical F- actin fluorescence intensity of RAW 264.7 cells containing ≥3 phagocytic targets in control cells or those treated with CN03, CT04, or the formin inhibitor SMIFH2 (5 μM); data from 3 independent experiments. P values are determined using a one-way ANOVA. All scale bars, 10 μm.