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Microfilaments in cellular and developmental processes.

N K Wessells, B S Spooner, J F Ash

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |January 15, 1971
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Cytochalasin inhibits cellular processes by targeting contractile microfilaments, suggesting they are the primary machinery for nonmuscle cell contraction. This drug serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying such contractile systems.

    Area of Science:

    • Cell Biology
    • Developmental Biology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Many cellular phenomena, including muscle contraction, clot retraction, and cell migration, are driven by contractile forces.
    • Cytochalasin is a known inhibitor of certain cellular activities, but its precise mechanism and scope were under investigation.
    • Understanding the molecular basis of contractility in nonmuscle cells is crucial for comprehending diverse biological processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of microfilaments in various cellular contractile processes.
    • To determine if cytochalasin can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify contractile microfilament systems.
    • To explore the molecular mechanisms and control of nonmuscle cell contractility.

    Main Methods:

    • Correlational analysis of cellular phenomena inhibition by cytochalasin.

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  • Microscopic observation of microfilament presence and alteration in treated and untreated cells.
  • Review of existing biochemical data on contractile proteins and their activities.

    • Main Results:

    • Phenomena inhibited by cytochalasin consistently involve microfilaments, suggesting they are the contractile machinery of nonmuscle cells.
    • Microfilaments are present in control cells exhibiting contractile activity and absent or altered in cytochalasin-treated cells.
    • Processes insensitive to cytochalasin involve other cellular components like microtubules.

    Conclusions:

    • Microfilaments are the primary contractile machinery in nonmuscle cells, and cytochalasin is a reliable diagnostic tool for identifying their presence.
    • Control of cellular processes involves regulation of microfilament assembly, localization, and activation, potentially involving calcium and high-energy compounds.
    • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular basis and regulatory mechanisms of primitive contractile systems.