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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
08:57
Myosin-Specific Adaptations of In vitro Fluorescence Microscopy-Based Motility Assays
Published on: February 4, 2021
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Nonmuscle myosin IIB is a driver of cellular reprogramming
Amanda E Balaban1, Ly T S Nguyen1, Eleana Parajón1
1Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Molecular Biology of the Cell
|April 19, 2023
Summary
Adding nonmuscle myosin IIB (NMIIB) to cells engineered for enhanced motility has unforeseen consequences. NMIIB integration profoundly impacts cell morphology, metabolism, and gene expression beyond its contractile function.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nonmuscle myosin IIB (NMIIB) is a key force generator for cell motility.
- Many motile cells lack NMIIB expression, presenting an opportunity for cell engineering.
- Cellular engineering aims to create 'supercells' with enhanced morphology and motility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of reintroducing NMIIB into cells lacking it.
- To analyze the effects of NMIIB mutants affecting ADP-bound states and filament assembly.
- To understand the integration of NMIIB with cellular systems beyond contractility.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pancreatic cancer cells, which naturally lack NMIIB.
- Generated cell lines with reintroduced NMIIB and specific NMIIB mutants.
- Performed phenotypic characterization and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis.
Main Results:
- NMIIB reintroduction and mutants altered cell morphology, metabolism, cortical tension, and mechanoresponsiveness.
- Significant shifts in ATP production pathways, including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, were observed.
- RNA-seq revealed substantial changes in gene expression for metabolic and growth pathways.
Conclusions:
- NMIIB is deeply integrated with multiple cellular systems.
- Simple cell engineering by adding NMIIB has far-reaching effects beyond expected contractile functions.
- This study highlights the complex systemic impact of NMIIB manipulation in cell engineering.
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