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Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction01:16

Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction

Actin and myosin are contractile proteins that form the sarcomere found in skeletal muscle tissues for regulating muscle contraction. Actin, a globular contractile protein, interacts with myosin for muscle contraction. The skeletal tissue appears striped or striated under a microscope due to the repeated arrangement of contractile proteins actin and myosin along the length of myofibrils. Dark A bands and light I bands repeat along myofibrils, and the alignment of myofibrils in the cell causes...
Actin Filament Depolymerization01:19

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.

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Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
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Cortical actin dynamics driven by formins and myosin V.

Jerry H Yu1, Alvaro H Crevenna, Mario Bettenbühl

  • 1AG Cellular Dynamics and Cell Patterning, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.

Journal of Cell Science
|April 14, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Budding yeast actin cable dynamics are regulated by formins and myosin. These molecular motors control cable organization and movement, ensuring accurate cell polarization.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cytoskeletal Dynamics
  • Molecular Motors

Background:

  • Cell morphogenesis relies on actin cytoskeleton reorganization.
  • Actin cables in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are formin-generated and essential for intracellular transport.
  • The molecular regulation of actin cable dynamics is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the molecular mechanisms governing actin cable dynamics in yeast.
  • Identify distinct cable populations and their regulatory factors.
  • Elucidate the role of formins and myosin in cable reorganization during cell polarization.

Main Methods:

  • Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.
  • Quantitative image analysis.
  • Genetic manipulation of yeast strains.

Main Results:

  • Identified kinetically distinct actin cable subpopulations.
  • Bni1 promotes elongation of randomly oriented cables in unpolarized cells.
  • Bnr1 and Bni1 mediate slower polymerization in polarized cells.
  • Myo2 (Type V myosin) drives translational cable motility.
  • Spatio-temporal regulation of Bni1, Bnr1, and Myo2 controls the switch from fast to slow cable dynamics during polarization.

Conclusions:

  • Uncovered molecular mechanisms regulating actin cable dynamics.
  • Fast actin reorganization is crucial for precise cell polarization.
  • Formins and myosin play differential roles in actin cable dynamics throughout the cell cycle.