Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Study of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Live Endothelial Cells Expressing GFP-Actin
08:37

Study of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Live Endothelial Cells Expressing GFP-Actin

Published on: November 18, 2011

27.7K

Polyarginine Peptide R11-Actin Interaction Induces a Domino Effect on Cytoskeleton Remodeling to Suppress Bladder

Zhenghong Liu1, Chuanzan Zhou1, Wentao Xu2

  • 1Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Urology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China.

Research (Washington, D.C.)
|February 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed a peptide, R11, that targets bladder cancer cells. R11 disrupts actin dynamics, effectively suppressing lung metastasis and offering a new therapeutic strategy for metastatic bladder cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biomaterials

Background:

  • Tumor metastasis is driven by cytoskeletal remodeling, particularly actin dynamics.
  • Actin-targeting agents face challenges due to poor specificity and lack of defined druggable sites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a precision modulator of actin dynamics for bladder cancer (BCa) metastasis.
  • To investigate the therapeutic potential of a polyarginine peptide, R11, and its assemblies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a bladder tumor-targeting polyarginine peptide, R11.
  • Investigated R11's interaction with the actin-plectin-vimentin/integrin β4 axis.
  • Engineered nanoscale multivalent assemblies of R11.

Main Results:

  • R11 disrupted cytoskeletal architecture in BCa cells, suppressing lung metastasis.
  • R11 directly interacted with actin, weakening key cytoskeletal interactions.
  • R11 assemblies demonstrated amplified therapeutic effects through enhanced multivalent binding.

Conclusions:

  • R11 peptide assemblies represent a novel therapeutic platform for metastatic bladder cancer.
  • This strategy offers precision intervention for cytoskeleton-dependent malignancies.
  • R11 shows promise for treating metastatic BCa and other cancers driven by cytoskeletal dynamics.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Reconstitution of the Actin Cytoskeleton Inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles10:19

In Vitro Reconstitution of the Actin Cytoskeleton Inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: August 25, 2022

4.2K
Culture of Bladder Cancer Organoids as Precision Medicine Tools08:39

Culture of Bladder Cancer Organoids as Precision Medicine Tools

Published on: December 28, 2021

5.4K

Related Concept Videos

Nucleosome Remodeling02:54

Nucleosome Remodeling

Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
11.2K
Polarity of the Cytoskeleton01:18

Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
25.3K
Peptide Bonds02:43

Peptide Bonds

A peptide bond covalently attaches amino acids through a dehydration reaction. One amino acid's carboxyl group and another amino acid's amino group combine, releasing a water molecule. The resulting bond is the peptide bond. The products that such linkages form are peptides. As more amino acids join this growing chain, the resulting chain is a polypeptide. Each polypeptide has a free amino group at one end. This end has the N-terminal, or the amino-terminal, and the other end has a free...
83.0K
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
6.6K
Introduction to the Cytoskeleton01:33

Introduction to the Cytoskeleton

Overview of the Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments present within the cell, having three distinct filaments ̶   microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Each has characteristic features that distinguish them, including the dynamics of their assembly and disassembly, mechanical properties, polarity, and the type of molecular motors associated with them. Earlier, they were thought to be present only in eukaryotic cells; however, their...
34.7K
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
9.4K