AI Article Synopsis
- The cytoskeleton provides cells with complex mechanical properties, with actin filaments playing a key role in maintaining cell shape and movement.
- Researchers designed an experimental system using liposomes to mimic the actin cortex, allowing for controlled studies of actin polymerization at the cell membrane.
- The results from this system match well with existing data from cells, offering new opportunities to explore the dynamics and mechanics of the actin cortex in detail.
Article Abstract
The composite and versatile structure of the cytoskeleton confers complex mechanical properties on cells. Actin filaments sustain the cell membrane and their dynamics insure cell shape changes. For example, the lamellipodium moves by actin polymerization, a mechanism that has been studied using simplified experimental systems. Much less is known about the actin cortex, a shell-like structure underneath the membrane that contracts for cell movement. We have designed an experimental system that mimicks the cell cortex by allowing actin polymerization to nucleate and assemble at the inner membrane of a liposome. Actin shell growth can be triggered inside the liposome, which offers a useful system for a controlled study. The observed actin shell thickness and estimated mesh size of the actin structure are in good agreement with cellular data. Such a system paves the way for a thorough characterization of cortical dynamics and mechanics.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2710045 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2008.09.029 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The Histone Lysine Demethylase KDM7A Contributes to Reward Memory via Fscn1-Induced Synaptic Plasticity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex.
Adv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
College of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission for Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
Lysine demethylase 7A (KDM7A) catalyzes the removal of dimethylation from histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 27, both of which are associated with transcription repression. Previous study indicates that Kdm7a mRNA in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) increases after drug exposure, yet its role in drug-related behaviors is largely unknown. In a morphine-conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, these findings reveal a specific increase of Kdm7a expression in the mPFC 7 days after drug withdrawal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Vitro Formation of Actin Ring in the Fission Yeast Cell Extracts.
Cytoskeleton (Hoboken)
January 2025
Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Mejiro, Tokyo, Japan.
Cytokinesis in animal and fungal cells requires the contraction of actomyosin-based contractile rings formed in the division cortex of the cell during late mitosis. However, the detailed mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we aim to develop a novel cell-free system by encapsulating cell extracts obtained from fission yeast cells within lipid vesicles, which subsequently leads to the formation of a contractile ring-like structure inside the vesicles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCFTR dictates monocyte adhesion by facilitating integrin clustering but not activation.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030.
Monocytes are critical in controlling tissue infections and inflammation. Monocyte dysfunction contributes to the inflammatory pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations, making CF a clinically relevant disease model for studying the contribution of monocytes to inflammation. Although CF monocytes exhibited adhesion defects, the precise mechanism is unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLoss of LRRK2 activity induces cytoskeleton defects and oxidative stress during porcine oocyte maturation.
Cell Commun Signal
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Research on Clinical Molecular Diagnosis for High Incidence Diseases in Western Guangxi of Guangxi Higher Education Institutions, Reproductive Medicine of Guangxi Medical and Health Key Discipline Construction Project, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a ROCO family member which its mutation is closely related with Parkinson's disease, and LRRK2 is widely involved into the regulation of autophagy, vesicle transport and neuronal proliferation. However, the roles of LRRK2 during mammalian oocyte maturation are still largely unclear. In present study, we disturbed the activity of LRRK2 and showed its essential roles in porcine oocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDesaturase-dependent secretory functions of hepatocyte-like cells control systemic lipid metabolism during starvation in .
Res Sq
December 2024
Nephrogenetics unit, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Similar to the mammalian hepatocytes, oenocytes accumulate fat during fasting, but it is unclear how they communicate with the fat body, the major lipid source. Using a modified protocol for prolonged starvation, we show that knockdown (KD) of the sole delta 9 desaturase, Desat1 (SCD in mammals), specifically in oenocytes leads to more saturated lipids in the hemolymph and reduced triacylglycerol (TAG) storage in the fat body. Additionally, oenocytes with KD exhibited an accumulation of lipoproteins and actin filaments at the cortex, which decreased lipoproteins in the hemolymph.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!