51
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Battey E, Ross JA, Hoang A, Wilson DGS, Han Y, Levy Y, Pollock RD, Kalakoutis M, Pugh JN, Close GL, Ellison-Hughes GM, Lazarus NR, Iskratsch T, Harridge SDR, Ochala J, Stroud MJ. Myonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humans. J Physiol 2023. [PMID: 36597809 DOI: 10.1113/jp284128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in skeletal muscle structure and function can be mitigated by regular exercise. However, the precise mechanisms that govern this are not fully understood. The nucleus plays an active role in translating forces into biochemical signals (mechanotransduction), with the nuclear lamina protein lamin A regulating nuclear shape, nuclear mechanics and ultimately gene expression. Defective lamin A expression causes muscle pathologies and premature ageing syndromes, but the roles of nuclear structure and function in physiological ageing and in exercise adaptations remain obscure. Here, we isolated single muscle fibres and carried out detailed morphological and functional analyses on myonuclei from young and older exercise-trained individuals. Strikingly, myonuclei from trained individuals were more spherical, less deformable, and contained a thicker nuclear lamina than those from untrained individuals. Complementary to this, exercise resulted in increased levels of lamin A and increased myonuclear stiffness in mice. We conclude that exercise is associated with myonuclear remodelling, independently of age, which may contribute to the preservative effects of exercise on muscle function throughout the lifespan. KEY POINTS: The nucleus plays an active role in translating forces into biochemical signals. Myonuclear aberrations in a group of muscular dystrophies called laminopathies suggest that the shape and mechanical properties of myonuclei are important for maintaining muscle function. Here, striking differences are presented in myonuclear shape and mechanics associated with exercise, in both young and old humans. Myonuclei from trained individuals were more spherical, less deformable and contained a thicker nuclear lamina than untrained individuals. It is concluded that exercise is associated with age-independent myonuclear remodelling, which may help to maintain muscle function throughout the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Battey
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J A Ross
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - A Hoang
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - D G S Wilson
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Y Han
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Y Levy
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - R D Pollock
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Kalakoutis
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - J N Pugh
- School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - G L Close
- School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - G M Ellison-Hughes
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - N R Lazarus
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - T Iskratsch
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - S D R Harridge
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - J Ochala
- Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M J Stroud
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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52
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Beedle AEM, Garcia-Manyes S. The role of single protein elasticity in mechanobiology. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2023; 8:10-24. [PMID: 37469679 PMCID: PMC7614781 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-022-00488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
In addition to biochemical signals and genetic considerations, mechanical forces are rapidly emerging as a master regulator of human physiology. Yet the molecular mechanisms that regulate force-induced functionalities across a wide range of scales, encompassing the cell, tissue or organ levels, are comparatively not so well understood. With the advent, development and refining of single molecule nanomechanical techniques, enabling to exquisitely probe the conformational dynamics of individual proteins under the effect of a calibrated force, we have begun to acquire a comprehensive knowledge on the rich plethora of physicochemical principles that regulate the elasticity of single proteins. Here we review the major advances underpinning our current understanding of how the elasticity of single proteins regulates mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. We discuss the present limitations and future challenges of such a prolific and burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy EM Beedle
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), the Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Garcia-Manyes
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom
- Single Molecule Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, London, UK
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53
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Advanced 3D Magnetic Scaffolds for Tumor-Related Bone Defects. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416190. [PMID: 36555827 PMCID: PMC9788029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The need for bone substitutes is a major challenge as the incidence of serious bone disorders is massively increasing, mainly attributed to modern world problems, such as obesity, aging of the global population, and cancer incidence. Bone cancer represents one of the most significant causes of bone defects, with reserved prognosis regarding the effectiveness of treatments and survival rate. Modern therapies, such as hyperthermia, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and magnetic therapy, seem to bring hope for cancer treatment in general, and bone cancer in particular. Mimicking the composition of bone to create advanced scaffolds, such as bone substitutes, proved to be insufficient for successful bone regeneration, and a special attention should be given to control the changes in the bone tissue micro-environment. The magnetic manipulation by an external field can be a promising technique to control this micro-environment, and to sustain the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, promoting the expression of some growth factors, and, finally, accelerating new bone formation. By incorporating stimuli responsive nanocarriers in the scaffold's architecture, such as magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive molecules, their behavior can be rigorously controlled under external magnetic driving, and stimulates the bone tissue formation.
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54
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Lammerding J, Engler AJ, Kamm R. Mechanobiology of the cell nucleus. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:040401. [PMID: 36536804 PMCID: PMC9759352 DOI: 10.1063/5.0135299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lammerding
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-6007, USA,Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed:; ; and
| | - Adam J. Engler
- Chien-Lay Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0412, USA,Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed:; ; and
| | - Roger Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA,Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed:; ; and
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55
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Nix Z, Kota D, Ratnayake I, Wang C, Smith S, Wood S. Spectral characterization of cell surface motion for mechanistic investigations of cellular mechanobiology. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 176:3-15. [PMID: 36108781 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the specific mechanisms responsible for anabolic and catabolic responses to static or dynamic force are largely poorly understood. Because of this, most research groups studying mechanotransduction due to dynamic forces employ an empirical approach in deciding what frequencies to apply during experiments. While this has been shown to elucidate valuable information regarding how cells respond under controlled provocation, it is often difficult or impossible to determine a true optimal frequency for force application, as many intracellular complexes are involved in receiving, propagating, and responding to a given stimulus. Here we present a novel adaptation of an analytical technique from the fields of civil and mechanical engineering that may open the door to direct measurement of mechanobiological cellular frequencies which could be used to target specific cell signaling pathways leveraging synergy between outside-in and inside-out mechanotransduction approaches. This information could be useful in identifying how specific proteins are involved in the homeostatic balance, or disruption thereof, of cells and tissue, furthering the understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of many diseases across a wide variety of cell types, which may one day lead to the development of novel mechanobiological therapies for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Nix
- Department of Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering, BioSystems Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, USA
| | - Divya Kota
- Department of Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering, BioSystems Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, USA
| | - Ishara Ratnayake
- Department of Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering, BioSystems Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, USA
| | - Congzhou Wang
- Department of Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering, BioSystems Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, USA
| | - Steve Smith
- Department of Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering, BioSystems Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, USA
| | - Scott Wood
- Department of Nanoscience & Biomedical Engineering, BioSystems Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, USA.
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56
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Mitten EK, Baffy G. Mechanotransduction in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1642-1656. [PMID: 36063966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mechanobiology is a domain of interdisciplinary research that aims to explore the impact of physical force, applied externally or internally, on cell and tissue function, including development, growth, and differentiation. Mechanotransduction is a term that describes how cells sense physical forces (such as compression, stretch, and shear stress), convert them into biochemical signals, and mount adaptive responses integrated by the nucleus. There is accumulating evidence that mechanical forces extensively inform the biological behaviour of liver cells in health and disease. Recent research has elucidated many cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this process including the pleiotropic control and diverse effects of the paralogous transcription co-activators YAP/TAZ, which play a prominent role in mechanotransduction. The liver sinusoids represent a unique microenvironment in which cells are exposed to mechanical cues originating in the cytoskeleton and at interfaces with adjacent cells, the extracellular matrix, and vascular or interstitial fluids. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatocellular lipid accumulation and ballooning, activation of inflammatory responses, dysfunction of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells into a pro-contractile and pro-fibrotic phenotype have been associated with aberrant cycles of mechanosensing and mechanoresponses. The downstream consequences of disrupted mechanical homeostasis likely contribute to the progression of NAFLD and promote the development of portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Identification of molecular targets involved in pathogenic mechanotransduction will allow for the development of novel strategies to prevent the progression of liver disease in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie K Mitten
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - György Baffy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA.
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57
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Gridina M, Fishman V. Multilevel view on chromatin architecture alterations in cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:1059617. [PMID: 36468037 PMCID: PMC9715599 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1059617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosomes inside the nucleus are not located in the form of linear molecules. Instead, there is a complex multilevel genome folding that includes nucleosomes packaging, formation of chromatin loops, domains, compartments, and finally, chromosomal territories. Proper spatial organization play an essential role for the correct functioning of the genome, and is therefore dynamically changed during development or disease. Here we discuss how the organization of the cancer cell genome differs from the healthy genome at various levels. A better understanding of how malignization affects genome organization and long-range gene regulation will help to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gridina
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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58
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Fenelon KD, Thomas E, Samani M, Zhu M, Tao H, Sun Y, McNeill H, Hopyan S. Transgenic force sensors and software to measure force transmission across the mammalian nuclear envelope in vivo. Biol Open 2022; 11:281166. [DOI: 10.1242/bio.059656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Nuclear mechanotransduction is a growing field with exciting implications for the regulation of gene expression and cellular function. Mechanical signals may be transduced to the nuclear interior biochemically or physically through connections between the cell surface and chromatin. To define mechanical stresses upon the nucleus in physiological settings, we generated transgenic mouse strains that harbour FRET-based tension sensors or control constructs in the outer and inner aspects of the nuclear envelope. We knocked-in a published esprin-2G sensor to measure tensions across the LINC complex and generated a new sensor that links the inner nuclear membrane to chromatin. To mitigate challenges inherent to fluorescence lifetime analysis in vivo, we developed software (FLIMvivo) that markedly improves the fitting of fluorescence decay curves. In the mouse embryo, the sensors responded to cytoskeletal relaxation and stretch applied by micro-aspiration. They reported organ-specific differences and a spatiotemporal tension gradient along the proximodistal axis of the limb bud, raising the possibility that mechanical mechanisms coregulate pattern formation. These mouse strains and software are potentially valuable tools for testing and refining mechanotransduction hypotheses in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli D. Fenelon
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 2 Department of Molecular Genetics , , Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
| | - Evan Thomas
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Mohammad Samani
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Min Zhu
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , , Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 , Canada
| | - Hirotaka Tao
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
| | - Yu Sun
- University of Toronto 3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering , , Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 , Canada
| | - Helen McNeill
- Washington University 4 Department of Developmental Biology , , St. Louis, MO 63110 , USA
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute 5 , Toronto, ON M5G 1X5 , Canada
| | - Sevan Hopyan
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 1 , Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 , Canada
- University of Toronto 2 Department of Molecular Genetics , , Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 , Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto 6 Division of Orthopaedic Surgery , , ON M5G 1X8 , Canada
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59
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An R. MRTF may be the missing link in a multiscale mechanobiology approach toward macrophage dysfunction in space. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:997365. [PMID: 36172272 PMCID: PMC9510870 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.997365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages exhibit impaired phagocytosis, adhesion, migration, and cytokine production in space, hindering their ability to elicit immune responses. Considering that the combined effect of spaceflight microgravity and radiation is multiscale and multifactorial in nature, it is expected that contradictory findings are common in the field. This theory paper reanalyzes research on the macrophage spaceflight response across multiple timescales from seconds to weeks, and spatial scales from the molecular, intracellular, extracellular, to the physiological. Key findings include time-dependence of both pro-inflammatory activation and integrin expression. Here, we introduce the time-dependent, intracellular localization of MRTF-A as a hypothetical confounder of macrophage activation. We discuss the mechanosensitive MRTF-A/SRF pathway dependence on the actin cytoskeleton/nucleoskeleton, microtubules, membrane mechanoreceptors, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and intracellular/extracellular crosstalk. By adopting a multiscale perspective, this paper provides the first mechanistic answer for a three-decade-old question regarding impaired cytokine secretion in microgravity—and strengthens the connection between the recent advances in mechanobiology, microgravity, and the spaceflight immune response. Finally, we hypothesize MRTF involvement and complications in treating spaceflight-induced cardiovascular, skeletal, and immune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocky An
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Rocky An,
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60
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Currey ML, Kandula V, Biggs R, Marko JF, Stephens AD. A Versatile Micromanipulation Apparatus for Biophysical Assays of the Cell Nucleus. Cell Mol Bioeng 2022; 15:303-312. [PMID: 36119136 PMCID: PMC9474788 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-022-00734-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Intro Force measurements of the nucleus, the strongest organelle, have propelled the field of mechanobiology to understand the basic mechanical components of the nucleus and how these components properly support nuclear morphology and function. Micromanipulation force measurement provides separation of the relative roles of nuclear mechanical components chromatin and lamin A. Methods To provide access to this technique, we have developed a universal micromanipulation apparatus for inverted microscopes. We outline how to engineer and utilize this apparatus through dual micromanipulators, fashion and calibrate micropipettes, and flow systems to isolate a nucleus and provide force vs. extensions measurements. This force measurement approach provides the unique ability to measure the separate contributions of chromatin at short extensions and lamin A strain stiffening at long extensions. We then investigated the apparatus’ controllable and programmable micromanipulators through compression, isolation, and extension in conjunction with fluorescence to develop new assays for nuclear mechanobiology. Results Using this methodology, we provide the first rebuilding of the micromanipulation setup outside of its lab of origin and recapitulate many key findings including spring constant of the nucleus and strain stiffening across many cell types. Furthermore, we have developed new micromanipulation-based techniques to compress nuclei inducing nuclear deformation and/or rupture, track nuclear shape post-isolation, and fluorescence imaging during micromanipulation force measurements. Conclusion We provide the workflow to build and use a micromanipulation apparatus with any inverted microscope to perform nucleus isolation, force measurements, and various other biophysical techniques. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-022-00734-y.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viswajit Kandula
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Department of Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | - Ronald Biggs
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Department of Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
| | - John F. Marko
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Department of Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
| | - Andrew D. Stephens
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA
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61
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Kalukula Y, Stephens AD, Lammerding J, Gabriele S. Mechanics and functional consequences of nuclear deformations. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:583-602. [PMID: 35513718 PMCID: PMC9902167 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
As the home of cellular genetic information, the nucleus has a critical role in determining cell fate and function in response to various signals and stimuli. In addition to biochemical inputs, the nucleus is constantly exposed to intrinsic and extrinsic mechanical forces that trigger dynamic changes in nuclear structure and morphology. Emerging data suggest that the physical deformation of the nucleus modulates many cellular and nuclear functions. These functions have long been considered to be downstream of cytoplasmic signalling pathways and dictated by gene expression. In this Review, we discuss an emerging perspective on the mechanoregulation of the nucleus that considers the physical connections from chromatin to nuclear lamina and cytoskeletal filaments as a single mechanical unit. We describe key mechanisms of nuclear deformations in time and space and provide a critical review of the structural and functional adaptive responses of the nucleus to deformations. We then consider the contribution of nuclear deformations to the regulation of important cellular functions, including muscle contraction, cell migration and human disease pathogenesis. Collectively, these emerging insights shed new light on the dynamics of nuclear deformations and their roles in cellular mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohalie Kalukula
- University of Mons, Soft Matter and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, Place du Parc, 20 B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Andrew D. Stephens
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sylvain Gabriele
- University of Mons, Soft Matter and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, Place du Parc, 20 B-7000 Mons, Belgium
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62
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Liu W, Padhi A, Zhang X, Narendran J, Anastasio MA, Nain AS, Irudayaraj J. Dynamic Heterochromatin States in Anisotropic Nuclei of Cells on Aligned Nanofibers. ACS NANO 2022; 16:10754-10767. [PMID: 35803582 PMCID: PMC9332347 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The cancer cell nucleus deforms as it invades the interstitial spaces in tissues and the tumor microenvironment. While alteration of the chromatin structure in a deformed nucleus is expected and documented, the chromatin structure in the nuclei of cells on aligned matrices has not been elucidated. In this work we elucidate the spatiotemporal organization of heterochromatin in the elongated nuclei of cells on aligned nanofibers with stimulated emission depletion nanoscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. We show that the anisotropy of nuclei is sufficient to drive H3K9me3-heterochromatin alterations, with enhanced H3K9me3 nanocluster compaction and aggregation states that otherwise are indistinguishable from diffraction-limited microscopy. We interrogated the higher-order heterochromatin structures within major chromatin compartments in anisotropic nuclei and discovered a wider spatial dispersion of nanodomain clusters in the nucleoplasm and condensed larger nanoclusters near the periphery and pericentromeric heterochromatin. Upon examining the spatiotemporal dynamics of heterochromatin in anisotropic nuclei, we observed reduced mobility of the constitutive heterochromatin mark H3K9me3 and the associated heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1α) at the nucleoplasm and periphery regions, correlating with increased viscosity and changes in gene expression. Since heterochromatin remodeling is crucial to genome integrity, our results reveal an unconventional H3K9me3 heterochromatin distribution, providing cues to an altered chromatin state due to perturbations of the nuclei in aligned fiber configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Liu
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, 1102 Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Biomedical
Research Center, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Cancer Center at Illinois,
Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Beckman
Institute, Carl Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Abinash Padhi
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, 1102 Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jairaj Narendran
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, 1102 Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Mark A. Anastasio
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, 1102 Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Amrinder S. Nain
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Joseph Irudayaraj
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, 1102 Everitt Lab, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Biomedical
Research Center, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Cancer Center at Illinois,
Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Beckman
Institute, Carl Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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63
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Mechanical Characterization and Modelling of Subcellular Components of Oocytes. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13071087. [PMID: 35888904 PMCID: PMC9319074 DOI: 10.3390/mi13071087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The early steps of embryogenesis are controlled exclusively by the quality of oocyte that linked closely to its mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of an oocyte were commonly characterized by assuming it was homogeneous such that the result deviated significantly from the true fact that it was composed of subcellular components. In this work, we accessed and characterized the subcellular components of the oocytes and developed a layered high-fidelity finite element model for describing the viscoelastic responses of an oocyte under loading. The zona pellucida (ZP) and cytoplasm were isolated from an oocyte using an in-house robotic micromanipulation platform and placed on AFM to separately characterizing their mechanical profiling by analyzing the creep behavior with the force clamping technique. The spring and damping parameters of a Kelvin–Voigt model were derived by fitting the creeping curve to the model, which were used to define the shear relaxation modulus and relaxation time of ZP or cytoplasm in the ZP and cytoplasm model. In the micropipette aspiration experiment, the model was accurate sufficiently to deliver the time-varying aspiration depth of the oocytes under the step negative pressure of a micropipette. In the micropipette microinjection experiment, the model accurately described the intracellular strain introduced by the penetration. The developed oocyte FEM model has implications for further investigating the viscoelastic responses of the oocytes under different loading settings.
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64
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Selezneva A, Gibb AJ, Willis D. The Nuclear Envelope as a Regulator of Immune Cell Function. Front Immunol 2022; 13:840069. [PMID: 35757775 PMCID: PMC9226455 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.840069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The traditional view of the nuclear envelope (NE) was that it represented a relatively inert physical barrier within the cell, whose main purpose was to separate the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm. However, recent research suggests that this is far from the case, with new and important cellular functions being attributed to this organelle. In this review we describe research suggesting an important contribution of the NE and its constituents in regulating the functions of cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. One of the standout properties of immune cells is their ability to migrate around the body, allowing them to carry out their physiological/pathophysiology cellular role at the appropriate location. This together with the physiological role of the tissue, changes in tissue matrix composition due to disease and aging, and the activation status of the immune cell, all result in immune cells being subjected to different mechanical forces. We report research which suggests that the NE may be an important sensor/transducer of these mechanical signals and propose that the NE is an integrator of both mechanical and chemical signals, allowing the cells of the innate immune system to precisely regulate gene transcription and functionality. By presenting this overview we hope to stimulate the interests of researchers into this often-overlooked organelle and propose it should join the ranks of mitochondria and phagosome, which are important organelles contributing to immune cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Selezneva
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair J Gibb
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dean Willis
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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65
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Ricci G, Guillou F, Catizone A, Mele VG, Moggio M, Chioccarelli T, Diano N, Meccariello R, Pierantoni R, Fasano S, Cobellis G, Chianese R, Manfrevola F. KISS1R and ANKRD31 Cooperate to Enhance Leydig Cell Gene Expression via the Cytoskeletal-Nucleoskeletal Pathway. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:877270. [PMID: 35813201 PMCID: PMC9260857 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.877270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kisspeptins are involved in the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, Leydig cell functions, and testosterone secretion, acting as endogenous ligands of the KISS1 receptor. ANKRD31 protein participates in male fertility, regulating meiotic progression, and epididymal sperm maturation. Here, we show that in Leydig cells, KISS1 receptor and ANKRD31 proteins physically interact; the formation of this protein complex is enhanced by Kisspeptin-10 that also modulates F-actin synthesis, favoring histone acetylation in chromatin and gene expression via the cytoskeletal–nucleoskeletal pathway. Kp/KISS1R system deregulation, expression impairment of cytoskeletal–nucleoskeletal mediators, Leydig gene targets, and the decreased testosterone secretion in Ankrd31−/− testis strongly supported our hypothesis. Furthermore, cytochalasin D treatment subverted the gene expression induction dependent on Kisspeptin-10 action. In conclusion, the current work highlights a novel role for the Kisspeptin-10 in the induction of the cytoskeletal–nucleoskeletal route, downstream a physical interaction between KISS1 receptor and ANKRD31, with gene expression activation as final effect, in Leydig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ricci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Florian Guillou
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | - Angela Catizone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Anatomiche, Istologiche, Medico Legali e dell’Apparato Locomotore, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Vincenza Grazia Mele
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Martina Moggio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Chioccarelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Nadia Diano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Meccariello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Napoli, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pierantoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Fasano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Gilda Cobellis
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosanna Chianese
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rosanna Chianese,
| | - Francesco Manfrevola
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
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66
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Wong DCP, Lee EHC, Er J, Yow I, Koean RAG, Ang O, Xiao J, Low BC, Ding JL. Lung Cancer Induces NK Cell Contractility and Cytotoxicity Through Transcription Factor Nuclear Localization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:871326. [PMID: 35652099 PMCID: PMC9149376 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.871326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Actomyosin-mediated cellular contractility is highly conserved for mechanotransduction and signalling. While this phenomenon has been observed in adherent cell models, whether/how contractile forces regulate the function of suspension cells like natural killer (NK) cells during cancer surveillance, is unknown. Here, we demonstrated in coculture settings that the evolutionarily conserved NK cell transcription factor, Eomes, undergoes nuclear shuttling during lung cancer cell surveillance. Biophysical and biochemical analyses revealed mechanistic enhancement of NK cell actomyosin-mediated contractility, which is associated with nuclear flattening, thus enabling nuclear entry of Eomes associated with enhanced NK cytotoxicity. We found that NK cells responded to the presumed immunosuppressive TGFβ in the NK-lung cancer coculture medium to sustain its intracellular contractility through myosin light chain phosphorylation, thereby promoting Eomes nuclear localization. Therefore, our results demonstrate that lung cancer cells provoke NK cell contractility as an early phase activation mechanism and that Eomes is a plausible mechano-responsive protein for increased NK cytotoxicity. There is scope for strategic application of actomyosin-mediated contractility modulating drugs ex vivo, to reinvigorate NK cells prior to adoptive cancer immunotherapy in vivo (177 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Chen Pei Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Mechanobiology Institute Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - E Hui Clarissa Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Junzhi Er
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ivan Yow
- Mechanobiology Institute Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Owen Ang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jingwei Xiao
- Mechanobiology Institute Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boon Chuan Low
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Mechanobiology Institute Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,University Scholars Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeak Ling Ding
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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67
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Chowdhury F, Huang B, Wang N. Forces in stem cells and cancer stem cells. Cells Dev 2022; 170:203776. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2022.203776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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68
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Discovery of surface biomarkers for cell mechanophenotype via an intracellular protein-based enrichment strategy. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:320. [PMID: 35622146 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04351-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Cellular mechanophenotype is often a defining characteristic of conditions like cancer malignancy/metastasis, cardiovascular disease, lung and liver fibrosis, and stem cell differentiation. However, acquiring living cells based on mechanophenotype is challenging for conventional cell sorters due to a lack of biomarkers. In this study, we demonstrate a workflow for surface protein discovery associated with cellular mechanophenotype. We sorted heterogeneous adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) into groups with low vs. high lamin A/C, an intracellular protein linked to whole-cell mechanophenotype. Proteomic data of enriched groups identified surface protein candidates as potential biochemical proxies for ASC mechanophenotype. Select surface biomarkers were used for live-cell enrichment, with subsequent single-cell mechanical testing and lineage-specific differentiation. Ultimately, we identified CD44 to have a strong inverse correlation with whole-cell elastic modulus, with CD44lo cells exhibiting moduli three times greater than that of CD44hi cells. Functionally, these stiff and soft ASCs showed enhanced osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential, respectively. The described workflow can be replicated for any phenotype with a known correlated intracellular protein, allowing for the acquisition of live cells for further characterization, diagnostics, or therapeutics.
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69
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A facile cell culture device for studying nuclear and mitochondrial response of endothelial cells to hydrostatic pressure. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2022.04.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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70
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Lavenus SB, Vosatka KW, Caruso AP, Ullo MF, Khan A, Logue JS. Emerin regulation of nuclear stiffness is required for fast amoeboid migration in confined environments. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:274946. [PMID: 35362531 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
When metastasizing, tumor cells must traverse environments with diverse physicochemical properties. Recently, the cell nucleus has emerged as a major regulator of the transition from mesenchymal to fast amoeboid (leader bleb-based) migration. Here, in melanoma cells, we demonstrate that increasing nuclear stiffness through elevating Lamin A, inhibits fast amoeboid migration. Importantly, nuclei may respond to force through stiffening. A key factor in this process is the inner nuclear membrane (INM) protein, emerin. Accordingly, we determined the role of emerin in regulating fast amoeboid migration. Strikingly, we found that both the up- and down-regulation of emerin results in an inhibition of fast amoeboid migration. However, when key Src phosphorylation sites were removed, up-regulation of emerin no longer inhibited fast amoeboid migration. Interestingly, in confined cells, Src activity was low, as measured by a Src biosensor. Thus, the fast amoeboid migration of melanoma cells depends on the precise calibration of emerin activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine B Lavenus
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Karl W Vosatka
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Alexa P Caruso
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Maria F Ullo
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Ayesha Khan
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Jeremy S Logue
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, USA
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71
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Echarri A. A Multisensory Network Drives Nuclear Mechanoadaptation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030404. [PMID: 35327596 PMCID: PMC8945967 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells have adapted to mechanical forces early in evolution and have developed multiple mechanisms ensuring sensing of, and adaptation to, the diversity of forces operating outside and within organisms. The nucleus must necessarily adapt to all types of mechanical signals, as its functions are essential for virtually all cell processes, many of which are tuned by mechanical cues. To sense forces, the nucleus is physically connected with the cytoskeleton, which senses and transmits forces generated outside and inside the cell. The nuclear LINC complex bridges the cytoskeleton and the nuclear lamina to transmit mechanical information up to the chromatin. This system creates a force-sensing macromolecular complex that, however, is not sufficient to regulate all nuclear mechanoadaptation processes. Within the nucleus, additional mechanosensitive structures, including the nuclear envelope and the nuclear pore complex, function to regulate nuclear mechanoadaptation. Similarly, extra nuclear mechanosensitive systems based on plasma membrane dynamics, mechanotransduce information to the nucleus. Thus, the nucleus has the intrinsic structural components needed to receive and interpret mechanical inputs, but also rely on extra nuclear mechano-sensors that activate nuclear regulators in response to force. Thus, a network of mechanosensitive cell structures ensures that the nucleus has a tunable response to mechanical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Echarri
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology Laboratory, Areas of Cell & Developmental Biology, Calle Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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72
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Intranuclear HSV-1 DNA ejection induces major mechanical transformations suggesting mechanoprotection of nucleus integrity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2114121119. [PMID: 35197285 PMCID: PMC8892323 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114121119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining nuclear integrity is essential to cell survival when exposed to mechanical stress. Herpesviruses, like most DNA and some RNA viruses, put strain on the nuclear envelope as hundreds of viral DNA genomes replicate and viral capsids assemble. It remained unknown, however, how nuclear mechanics is affected at the initial stage of herpesvirus infection-immediately after viral genomes are ejected into the nuclear space-and how nucleus integrity is maintained despite an increased strain on the nuclear envelope. With an atomic force microscopy force volume mapping approach on cell-free reconstituted nuclei with docked herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) capsids, we explored the mechanical response of the nuclear lamina and the chromatin to intranuclear HSV-1 DNA ejection into an intact nucleus. We discovered that chromatin stiffness, measured as Young's modulus, is increased by ∼14 times, while nuclear lamina underwent softening. Those transformations could be associated with a mechanism of mechanoprotection of nucleus integrity facilitating HSV-1 viral genome replication. Indeed, stiffening of chromatin, which is tethered to the lamina meshwork, helps to maintain nuclear morphology. At the same time, increased lamina elasticity, reflected by nucleus softening, acts as a "shock absorber," dissipating the internal mechanical stress on the nuclear membrane (located on top of the lamina wall) and preventing its rupture.
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73
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Vahabikashi A, Adam SA, Medalia O, Goldman RD. Nuclear lamins: Structure and function in mechanobiology. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:011503. [PMID: 35146235 PMCID: PMC8810204 DOI: 10.1063/5.0082656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear lamins are type V intermediate filament proteins that polymerize into complex filamentous meshworks at the nuclear periphery and in less structured forms throughout the nucleoplasm. Lamins interact with a wide range of nuclear proteins and are involved in numerous nuclear and cellular functions. Within the nucleus, they play roles in chromatin organization and gene regulation, nuclear shape, size, and mechanics, and the organization and anchorage of nuclear pore complexes. At the whole cell level, they are involved in the organization of the cytoskeleton, cell motility, and mechanotransduction. The expression of different lamin isoforms has been associated with developmental progression, differentiation, and tissue-specific functions. Mutations in lamins and their binding proteins result in over 15 distinct human diseases, referred to as laminopathies. The laminopathies include muscular (e.g., Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy), neurological (e.g., microcephaly), and metabolic (e.g., familial partial lipodystrophy) disorders as well as premature aging diseases (e.g., Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria and Werner syndromes). How lamins contribute to the etiology of laminopathies is still unknown. In this review article, we summarize major recent findings on the structure, organization, and multiple functions of lamins in nuclear and more global cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Vahabikashi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Stephen A. Adam
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Ohad Medalia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robert D. Goldman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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74
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Tang Y, Zhu L, Cho JS, Li XY, Weiss SJ. Matrix remodeling controls a nuclear lamin A/C-emerin network that directs Wnt-regulated stem cell fate. Dev Cell 2022; 57:480-495.e6. [PMID: 35150612 PMCID: PMC8891068 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) reside within a three-dimensional extracellular matrix (ECM) compartment and differentiate into multiple cell lineages, thereby controlling tissue maintenance and regeneration. Within this environment, SSCs can proteolytically remodel the surrounding ECM in response to growth factors that direct lineage commitment via undefined mechanisms. Here, we report that Mmp14-dependent ECM remodeling coordinates canonical Wnt signaling and guides stem cell fate by triggering an integrin-activated reorganization of the SCC cytoskeleton that controls nuclear lamin A/C levels via the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes. In turn, SSC lamin A/C levels dictate the localization of emerin, an inner nuclear membrane protein whose ability to regulate β-catenin activity modulates Wnt signaling while directing lineage commitment in vitro and in vivo. These findings define a previously undescribed axis wherein SSCs use Mmp14-dependent ECM remodeling to control cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal organization, thereby governing Wnt-dependent stem cell fate decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Tang
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Lingxin Zhu
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jung-Sun Cho
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Xiao-Yan Li
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Stephen J. Weiss
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Corresponding Authors: Stephen J. Weiss, MD, , Life Sciences Institute, Mary Sue Coleman Hall, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, Yi Tang, PhD, , Life Sciences Institute, Mary Sue Coleman Hall, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216
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75
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Fernandez A, Bautista M, Wu L, Pinaud F. Emerin self-assembly and nucleoskeletal coupling regulate nuclear envelope mechanics against stress. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:274432. [PMID: 35178558 PMCID: PMC8995096 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerin is an integral nuclear envelope protein participating in the maintenance of nuclear shape. When mutated or absent, emerin causes X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). To define how emerin takes parts in molecular scaffolding at the nuclear envelope and helps protect the nucleus against mechanical stress, we established its nanoscale organization using single molecule tracking and super-resolution microscopy. We show that emerin monomers form localized oligomeric nanoclusters stabilized by both lamin A/C and SUN1 LINC complex. Interactions of emerin with nuclear actin and BAF additionally modulate its membrane mobility and its ability to oligomerize. In nuclei subjected to mechanical challenges, the mechanotransducing functions of emerin are coupled to changes in its oligomeric state, and the incremental self-assembly of emerin determines nuclear shape adaptation against forces. We also show that the abnormal nuclear envelope deformations induced by EDMD emerin mutants stem from an improper formation of lamin A/C and LINC complex-stabilized emerin oligomers. These findings place emerin at the center of the molecular processes that regulate nuclear shape remodeling in response to mechanical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Fernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Markville Bautista
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Liying Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Fabien Pinaud
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, 1050 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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76
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Danielsson BE, Peters HC, Bathula K, Spear LM, Noll NA, Dahl KN, Conway DE. Progerin-expressing endothelial cells are unable to adapt to shear stress. Biophys J 2022; 121:620-628. [PMID: 34999130 PMCID: PMC8873939 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare premature aging disease caused by a single-point mutation in the lamin A gene, resulting in a truncated and farnesylated form of lamin A. This mutant lamin A protein, known as progerin, accumulates at the periphery of the nuclear lamina, resulting in both an abnormal nuclear morphology and nuclear stiffening. Patients with HGPS experience rapid onset of atherosclerosis, with death from heart attack or stroke as teenagers. Progerin expression has been shown to cause dysfunction in both vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells (ECs). In this study, we examined how progerin-expressing endothelial cells adapt to fluid shear stress, the principal mechanical force from blood flow. We compared the response to shear stress for progerin-expressing, wild-type lamin A overexpressing, and control endothelial cells to physiological levels of fluid shear stress. Additionally, we also knocked down ZMPSTE24 in endothelial cells, which results in increased farnesylation of lamin A and similar phenotypes to HGPS. Our results showed that endothelial cells either overexpressing progerin or with ZMPSTE24 knockdown were unable to adapt to shear stress, experiencing significant cell loss at a longer duration of exposure to shear stress (3 days). Endothelial cells overexpressing wild-type lamin A also exhibited similar impairments in adaptation to shear stress, including similar levels of cell loss. Quantification of nuclear morphology showed that progerin-expressing endothelial cells had similar nuclear abnormalities in both static and shear conditions. Treatment of progerin-expressing cells and ZMPSTE24 KD cells with lonafarnib and methystat, drugs previously shown to improve HGPS nuclear morphology, resulted in improvements in adaptation to shear stress. Additionally, the prealignment of cells to shear stress before progerin-expression prevented cell loss. Our results demonstrate that changes in nuclear lamins can affect the ability of endothelial cells to properly adapt to shear stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E Danielsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Hannah C Peters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Kranthi Bathula
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Lindsay M Spear
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Natalie A Noll
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Kris N Dahl
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department, Thornton Tomasetti, New York City, New York
| | - Daniel E Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
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77
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Rubin J, van Wijnen AJ, Uzer G. Architectural control of mesenchymal stem cell phenotype through nuclear actin. Nucleus 2022; 13:35-48. [PMID: 35133922 PMCID: PMC8837231 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2022.2029297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing appreciation that architectural components of the nucleus regulate gene accessibility by altering chromatin organization. While nuclear membrane connector proteins link the mechanosensitive actin cytoskeleton to the nucleoskeleton, actin’s contribution to the inner architecture of the nucleus remains enigmatic. Control of actin transport into the nucleus, plus the presence of proteins that control actin structure (the actin tool-box) within the nucleus, suggests that nuclear actin may support biomechanical regulation of gene expression. Cellular actin structure is mechanoresponsive: actin cables generated through forces experienced at the plasma membrane transmit force into the nucleus. We posit that dynamic actin remodeling in response to such biomechanical cues provides a novel level of structural control over the epigenetic landscape. We here propose to bring awareness to the fact that mechanical forces can promote actin transfer into the nucleus and control structural arrangements as illustrated in mesenchymal stem cells, thereby modulating lineage commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Rubin
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andre J van Wijnen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont Medical School, Burlington, Vt, USA
| | - Gunes Uzer
- Department of Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
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78
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Mierke CT. Viscoelasticity, Like Forces, Plays a Role in Mechanotransduction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:789841. [PMID: 35223831 PMCID: PMC8864183 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.789841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viscoelasticity and its alteration in time and space has turned out to act as a key element in fundamental biological processes in living systems, such as morphogenesis and motility. Based on experimental and theoretical findings it can be proposed that viscoelasticity of cells, spheroids and tissues seems to be a collective characteristic that demands macromolecular, intracellular component and intercellular interactions. A major challenge is to couple the alterations in the macroscopic structural or material characteristics of cells, spheroids and tissues, such as cell and tissue phase transitions, to the microscopic interferences of their elements. Therefore, the biophysical technologies need to be improved, advanced and connected to classical biological assays. In this review, the viscoelastic nature of cytoskeletal, extracellular and cellular networks is presented and discussed. Viscoelasticity is conceptualized as a major contributor to cell migration and invasion and it is discussed whether it can serve as a biomarker for the cells’ migratory capacity in several biological contexts. It can be hypothesized that the statistical mechanics of intra- and extracellular networks may be applied in the future as a powerful tool to explore quantitatively the biomechanical foundation of viscoelasticity over a broad range of time and length scales. Finally, the importance of the cellular viscoelasticity is illustrated in identifying and characterizing multiple disorders, such as cancer, tissue injuries, acute or chronic inflammations or fibrotic diseases.
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79
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Sun W, Gao X, Lei H, Wang W, Cao Y. Biophysical Approaches for Applying and Measuring Biological Forces. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105254. [PMID: 34923777 PMCID: PMC8844594 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, increasing evidence has indicated that mechanical loads can regulate the morphogenesis, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of living cells. Investigations of how cells sense mechanical stimuli or the mechanotransduction mechanism is an active field of biomaterials and biophysics. Gaining a further understanding of mechanical regulation and depicting the mechanotransduction network inside cells require advanced experimental techniques and new theories. In this review, the fundamental principles of various experimental approaches that have been developed to characterize various types and magnitudes of forces experienced at the cellular and subcellular levels are summarized. The broad applications of these techniques are introduced with an emphasis on the difficulties in implementing these techniques in special biological systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, which can guide readers to choose the most suitable technique for their questions. A perspective on future directions in this field is also provided. It is anticipated that technical advancement can be a driving force for the development of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Sun
- School of SciencesNantong UniversityNantong226019P. R. China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Hai Lei
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Yi Cao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and TechnologyDepartment of Polymer Science & EngineeringCollege of Chemistry & Chemical EngineeringNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
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80
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Cytoskeletal Protein Variants Driving Atrial Fibrillation: Potential Mechanisms of Action. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030416. [PMID: 35159226 PMCID: PMC8834312 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common clinical tachyarrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF), is present in 1-2% of the population. Although common risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, frequently underlie AF onset, it has been recognized that in 15% of the AF population, AF is familial. In these families, genome and exome sequencing techniques identified variants in the non-coding genome (i.e., variant regulatory elements), genes encoding ion channels, as well as genes encoding cytoskeletal (-associated) proteins. Cytoskeletal protein variants include variants in desmin, lamin A/C, titin, myosin heavy and light chain, junctophilin, nucleoporin, nesprin, and filamin C. These cytoskeletal protein variants have a strong association with the development of cardiomyopathy. Interestingly, AF onset is often represented as the initial manifestation of cardiac disease, sometimes even preceding cardiomyopathy by several years. Although emerging research findings reveal cytoskeletal protein variants to disrupt the cardiomyocyte structure and trigger DNA damage, exploration of the pathophysiological mechanisms of genetic AF is still in its infancy. In this review, we provide an overview of cytoskeletal (-associated) gene variants that relate to genetic AF and highlight potential pathophysiological pathways that drive this arrhythmia.
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81
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Abstract
Cells generate and sense mechanical forces that trigger biochemical signals to elicit cellular responses that control cell fate changes. Mechanical forces also physically distort neighboring cells and the surrounding connective tissue, which propagate mechanochemical signals over long distances to guide tissue patterning, organogenesis, and adult tissue homeostasis. As the largest and stiffest organelle, the nucleus is particularly sensitive to mechanical force and deformation. Nuclear responses to mechanical force include adaptations in chromatin architecture and transcriptional activity that trigger changes in cell state. These force-driven changes also influence the mechanical properties of chromatin and nuclei themselves to prevent aberrant alterations in nuclear shape and help maintain genome integrity. This review will discuss principles of nuclear mechanotransduction and chromatin mechanics and their role in DNA damage and cell fate regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yekaterina A Miroshnikova
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Wihuri Research Institute, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Sara A Wickström
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Wihuri Research Institute, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
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82
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Takata T, Matsumura M. The LINC Complex Assists the Nuclear Import of Mechanosensitive Transcriptional Regulators. Results Probl Cell Differ 2022; 70:315-337. [PMID: 36348113 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-06573-6_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces play pivotal roles in directing cell functions and fate. To elicit gene expression, either intrinsic or extrinsic mechanical information are transmitted into the nucleus beyond the nuclear envelope via at least two distinct pathways, possibly more. The first and well-known pathway utilizes the canonical nuclear transport of mechanoresponsive transcriptional regulators through the nuclear pore complex, which is an exclusive route for macromolecular trafficking between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. The second pathway depends on the linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, which is a molecular bridge traversing the nuclear envelope between the cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton. This protein complex is a central component in mechanotransduction at the nuclear envelope that transmits mechanical information from the cytoskeleton into the nucleus to influence the nuclear structure, nuclear stiffness, chromatin organization, and gene expression. Besides the mechanical force transducing function, recent increasing evidence shows that the LINC complex plays a role in controlling nucleocytoplasmic transport of mechanoresponsive transcriptional regulators. Here we discuss recent findings regarding the contribution of the LINC complex to the regulation of intracellular localization of the most-notable mechanosensitive transcriptional regulators, β-catenin, YAP, and TAZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyo Takata
- Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Tobe, Ehime, Japan
| | - Miki Matsumura
- Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Tobe, Ehime, Japan.
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83
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Agsu G, Gaillard J, Cadot B, Blanchoin L, Fabre E, Théry M. Reconstituting the Interaction Between Purified Nuclei and Microtubule Network. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2430:385-399. [PMID: 35476346 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1983-4_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The nucleus is the stiffest organelle in the cell. Several morphogenetic processes depend on its deformation such as cell migration, cell differentiation, or senescence. Recent studies have revealed various mechanisms involved in the regulation of nucleus stiffness and deformation. The implication of chromatin swelling, lamin density, actin filament, and microtubule network revealed that nucleus shape is the outcome of a fine balance between various sources of external forces and numerous means of internal resistance. In adherent cells, the actin network is the dominant player in external force production, whereas in nonadherent cells microtubules seem to take over. It is therefore important to set up reconstitution assays in order to decipher the exact contribution of each player in this mechanical balance. In this method, we describe a nucleus purification protocol that is suitable for nonadherent cells. We also show that purified nuclei can interact with microtubules and that nuclei purified from distinct cell types get differentially wrapped into the array of microtubules. A combination with a microtubule gliding assay offers the possibility to counterbalance the binding to the nucleus membrane by active motor-based forces pulling on microtubules. So this protocol allows an in-depth study of microtubule-nucleus interactions in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gökçe Agsu
- INSERM, CEA, U976 - HIPI, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- CEA, INRA, CNRS, UMR5168 - LPCV, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Jérémie Gaillard
- INSERM, CEA, U976 - HIPI, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- CEA, INRA, CNRS, UMR5168 - LPCV, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Bruno Cadot
- INSERM - Sorbonne Université UMR974 - Center for Research in Myology, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Blanchoin
- INSERM, CEA, U976 - HIPI, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- CEA, INRA, CNRS, UMR5168 - LPCV, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Emmanuelle Fabre
- IRSL, INSERM, U944, CNRS, UMR7212, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Manuel Théry
- INSERM, CEA, U976 - HIPI, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
- CEA, INRA, CNRS, UMR5168 - LPCV, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France.
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84
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Falo-Sanjuan J, Bray S. Notch-dependent and -independent transcription are modulated by tissue movements at gastrulation. eLife 2022; 11:73656. [PMID: 35583918 PMCID: PMC9183233 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells sense and integrate external information from diverse sources that include mechanical cues. Shaping of tissues during development may thus require coordination between mechanical forces from morphogenesis and cell-cell signalling to confer appropriate changes in gene expression. By live-imaging Notch-induced transcription in real time, we have discovered that morphogenetic movements during Drosophila gastrulation bring about an increase in activity-levels of a Notch-responsive enhancer. Mutations that disrupt the timing of gastrulation resulted in concomitant delays in transcription up-regulation that correlated with the start of mesoderm invagination. As a similar gastrulation-induced effect was detected when transcription was elicited by the intracellular domain NICD, it cannot be attributed to forces exerted on Notch receptor activation. A Notch-independent vnd enhancer also exhibited a modest gastrulation-induced activity increase in the same stripe of cells. Together, these observations argue that gastrulation-associated forces act on the nucleus to modulate transcription levels. This regulation was uncoupled when the complex linking the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) was disrupted, indicating a likely conduit. We propose that the coupling between tissue-level mechanics, arising from gastrulation, and enhancer activity represents a general mechanism for ensuring correct tissue specification during development and that Notch-dependent enhancers are highly sensitive to this regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Falo-Sanjuan
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Sarah Bray
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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85
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Aguilera Suarez S, Sekar NC, Nguyen N, Lai A, Thurgood P, Zhou Y, Needham S, Pirogova E, Khoshmanesh K, Baratchi S. Studying the Mechanobiology of Aortic Endothelial Cells Under Cyclic Stretch Using a Modular 3D Printed System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:791116. [PMID: 34957080 PMCID: PMC8698250 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.791116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe a motorized cam-driven system for the cyclic stretch of aortic endothelial cells. Our modular design allows for generating customized spatiotemporal stretch profiles by varying the profile and size of 3D printed cam and follower elements. The system is controllable, compact, inexpensive, and amenable for parallelization and long-term experiments. Experiments using human aortic endothelial cells show significant changes in the cytoskeletal structure and morphology of cells following exposure to 5 and 10% cyclic stretch over 9 and 16 h. The system provides upportunities for exploring the complex molecular and cellular processes governing the response of mechanosensitive cells under cyclic stretch.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Chandra Sekar
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ngan Nguyen
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Austin Lai
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Thurgood
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ying Zhou
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Elena Pirogova
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Sara Baratchi
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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86
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Goelzer M, Goelzer J, Ferguson ML, Neu CP, Uzer G. Nuclear envelope mechanobiology: linking the nuclear structure and function. Nucleus 2021; 12:90-114. [PMID: 34455929 PMCID: PMC8432354 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2021.1962610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleus, central to cellular activity, relies on both direct mechanical input as well as its molecular transducers to sense external stimuli and respond by regulating intra-nuclear chromatin organization that determines cell function and fate. In mesenchymal stem cells of musculoskeletal tissues, changes in nuclear structures are emerging as a key modulator of their differentiation and proliferation programs. In this review we will first introduce the structural elements of the nucleoskeleton and discuss the current literature on how nuclear structure and signaling are altered in relation to environmental and tissue level mechanical cues. We will focus on state-of-the-art techniques to apply mechanical force and methods to measure nuclear mechanics in conjunction with DNA, RNA, and protein visualization in living cells. Ultimately, combining real-time nuclear deformations and chromatin dynamics can be a powerful tool to study mechanisms of how forces affect the dynamics of genome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Goelzer
- Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, US
| | | | - Matthew L. Ferguson
- Biomolecular Science, Boise State University, Boise, ID, US
- Physics, Boise State University, Boise, ID, US
| | - Corey P. Neu
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, US
| | - Gunes Uzer
- Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, US
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87
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Hobson CM, Falvo MR, Superfine R. A survey of physical methods for studying nuclear mechanics and mechanobiology. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041508. [PMID: 34849443 PMCID: PMC8604565 DOI: 10.1063/5.0068126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
It is increasingly appreciated that the cell nucleus is not only a home for DNA but also a complex material that resists physical deformations and dynamically responds to external mechanical cues. The molecules that confer mechanical properties to nuclei certainly contribute to laminopathies and possibly contribute to cellular mechanotransduction and physical processes in cancer such as metastasis. Studying nuclear mechanics and the downstream biochemical consequences or their modulation requires a suite of complex assays for applying, measuring, and visualizing mechanical forces across diverse length, time, and force scales. Here, we review the current methods in nuclear mechanics and mechanobiology, placing specific emphasis on each of their unique advantages and limitations. Furthermore, we explore important considerations in selecting a new methodology as are demonstrated by recent examples from the literature. We conclude by providing an outlook on the development of new methods and the judicious use of the current techniques for continued exploration into the role of nuclear mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael R. Falvo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Richard Superfine
- Department of Applied Physical Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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88
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Kennedy Z, Newberg J, Goelzer M, Judex S, Fitzpatrick CK, Uzer G. Modeling stem cell nucleus mechanics using confocal microscopy. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:2361-2372. [PMID: 34424419 PMCID: PMC8599651 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01513-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear mechanics is emerging as a key component of stem cell function and differentiation. While changes in nuclear structure can be visually imaged with confocal microscopy, mechanical characterization of the nucleus and its sub-cellular components require specialized testing equipment. A computational model permitting cell-specific mechanical information directly from confocal and atomic force microscopy of cell nuclei would be of great value. Here, we developed a computational framework for generating finite element models of isolated cell nuclei from multiple confocal microscopy scans and simple atomic force microscopy (AFM) tests. Confocal imaging stacks of isolated mesenchymal stem cells were converted into finite element models and siRNA-mediated Lamin A/C depletion isolated chromatin and Lamin A/C structures. Using AFM-measured experimental stiffness values, a set of conversion factors were determined for both chromatin and Lamin A/C to map the voxel intensity of the original images to the element stiffness, allowing the prediction of nuclear stiffness in an additional set of other nuclei. The developed computational framework will identify the contribution of a multitude of sub-nuclear structures and predict global nuclear stiffness of multiple nuclei based on simple nuclear isolation protocols, confocal images and AFM tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeke Kennedy
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, MSd-2085, Boise, ID, 83725-2085, USA
| | - Joshua Newberg
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, MSd-2085, Boise, ID, 83725-2085, USA
| | - Matthew Goelzer
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, MSd-2085, Boise, ID, 83725-2085, USA
| | - Stefan Judex
- Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, USA
| | - Clare K Fitzpatrick
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, MSd-2085, Boise, ID, 83725-2085, USA
| | - Gunes Uzer
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, MSd-2085, Boise, ID, 83725-2085, USA.
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89
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Seelbinder B, Ghosh S, Schneider SE, Scott AK, Berman AG, Goergen CJ, Margulies KB, Bedi K, Casas E, Swearingen AR, Brumbaugh J, Calve S, Neu CP. Nuclear deformation guides chromatin reorganization in cardiac development and disease. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:1500-1516. [PMID: 34857921 PMCID: PMC9300284 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00823-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In cardiovascular tissues, changes in the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are associated with cellular de-differentiation and with subsequent functional declines. However, the underlying mechanoreceptive mechanisms are largely unclear. Here, by generating high-resolution, full-field strain maps of cardiomyocyte nuclei during contraction in vitro, complemented with evidence from tissues from patients with cardiomyopathy and from mice with reduced cardiac performance, we show that cardiomyocytes establish a distinct nuclear organization during maturation, characterized by the reorganization of H3K9me3-marked chromatin towards the nuclear border. Specifically, we show that intranuclear tension is spatially correlated with H3K9me3-marked chromatin, that reductions in nuclear deformation (through environmental stiffening or through the disruption of complexes of the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) abrogate chromatin reorganization and lead to the dissociation of H3K9me3-marked chromatin from the nuclear periphery, and that the suppression of H3K9 methylation induces chromatin reorganization and reduces the expression of cardiac developmental genes. Overall, our findings indicate that, by integrating environmental mechanical cues, the nuclei of cardiomyocytes guide and stabilize the fate of cells through the reorganization of epigenetically marked chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Seelbinder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO)
| | - Soham Ghosh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO)
| | | | - Adrienne K. Scott
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO)
| | - Alycia G. Berman
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette (IN)
| | - Craig J. Goergen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette (IN)
| | | | - Kenneth Bedi
- Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (PA)
| | - Eduard Casas
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO)
| | - Alison R. Swearingen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO)
| | - Justin Brumbaugh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO)
| | - Sarah Calve
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO),Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette (IN)
| | - Corey P. Neu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder (CO),Corresponding Author
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90
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Molecular Mechanisms and Cellular Contribution from Lung Fibrosis to Lung Cancer Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212179. [PMID: 34830058 PMCID: PMC8624248 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) of unknown aetiology, with a median survival of 2–4 years from the time of diagnosis. Although IPF has unknown aetiology by definition, there have been identified several risks factors increasing the probability of the onset and progression of the disease in IPF patients such as cigarette smoking and environmental risk factors associated with domestic and occupational exposure. Among them, cigarette smoking together with concomitant emphysema might predispose IPF patients to lung cancer (LC), mostly to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), increasing the risk of lung cancer development. To this purpose, IPF and LC share several cellular and molecular processes driving the progression of both pathologies such as fibroblast transition proliferation and activation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and many genetic and epigenetic markers that predispose IPF patients to LC development. Nintedanib, a tyrosine–kinase inhibitor, was firstly developed as an anticancer drug and then recognized as an anti-fibrotic agent based on the common target molecular pathway. In this review our aim is to describe the updated studies on common cellular and molecular mechanisms between IPF and lung cancer, knowledge of which might help to find novel therapeutic targets for this disease combination.
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91
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Iyer SR, Folker ES, Lovering RM. The Nucleoskeleton: Crossroad of Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Muscle. Front Physiol 2021; 12:724010. [PMID: 34721058 PMCID: PMC8554227 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.724010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are a primary structural component of the cytoskeleton extending throughout the muscle cell (myofiber). Mechanotransduction, the process by which mechanical force is translated into a biochemical signal to activate downstream cellular responses, is crucial to myofiber function. Mechanical forces also act on the nuclear cytoskeleton, which is integrated with the myofiber cytoskeleton by the linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes. Thus, the nucleus serves as the endpoint for the transmission of force through the cell. The nuclear lamina, a dense meshwork of lamin IFs between the nuclear envelope and underlying chromatin, plays a crucial role in responding to mechanical input; myofibers constantly respond to mechanical perturbation via signaling pathways by activation of specific genes. The nucleus is the largest organelle in cells and a master regulator of cell homeostasis, thus an understanding of how it responds to its mechanical environment is of great interest. The importance of the cell nucleus is magnified in skeletal muscle cells due to their syncytial nature and the extreme mechanical environment that muscle contraction creates. In this review, we summarize the bidirectional link between the organization of the nucleoskeleton and the contractile features of skeletal muscle as they relate to muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shama R Iyer
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Eric S Folker
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Richard M Lovering
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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92
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Malashicheva A, Perepelina K. Diversity of Nuclear Lamin A/C Action as a Key to Tissue-Specific Regulation of Cellular Identity in Health and Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:761469. [PMID: 34722546 PMCID: PMC8548693 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.761469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A-type lamins are the main structural components of the nucleus, which are mainly localized at the nucleus periphery. First of all, A-type lamins, together with B-type lamins and proteins of the inner nuclear membrane, form a stiff structure-the nuclear lamina. Besides maintaining the nucleus cell shape, A-type lamins play a critical role in many cellular events, such as gene transcription and epigenetic regulation. Nowadays it is clear that lamins play a very important role in determining cell fate decisions. Various mutations in genes encoding A-type lamins lead to damages of different types of tissues in humans, collectively known as laminopathies, and it is clear that A-type lamins are involved in the regulation of cell differentiation and stemness. However, the mechanisms of this regulation remain unclear. In this review, we discuss how A-type lamins can execute their regulatory role in determining the differentiation status of a cell. We have summarized recent data focused on lamin A/C action mechanisms in regulation of cell differentiation and identity development of stem cells of different origin. We also discuss how this knowledge can promote further research toward a deeper understanding of the role of lamin A/C mutations in laminopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Malashicheva
- Laboratory of Regenerative Biomedicine, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Kseniya Perepelina
- Laboratory of Regenerative Biomedicine, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
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93
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Brun S, Kuo HC, Jeffree CE, Thomson DD, Read N. Courtship Ritual of Male and Female Nuclei during Fertilization in Neurospora crassa. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0033521. [PMID: 34612669 PMCID: PMC8509652 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00335-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is a key process influencing the evolution and adaptation of animals, plants, and many eukaryotic microorganisms, such as fungi. However, the sequential cell biology of fertilization and the associated nuclear dynamics after plasmogamy are poorly understood in filamentous fungi. Using histone-fluorescent parental isolates, we tracked male and female nuclei during fertilization in the model ascomycete Neurospora crassa using live-cell imaging. This study unravels the behavior of trichogyne resident female nuclei and the extraordinary manner in which male nuclei migrate up the trichogyne to the protoperithecium. Our observations raise new fundamental questions about the modus operandi of nucleus movements during sexual reproduction, male and female nuclear identity, guidance of nuclei within the trichogyne and, unexpectedly, the avoidance of "polyspermy" in fungi. The spatiotemporal dynamics of male nuclei within the trichogyne following plasmogamy are also described, where the speed and the deformation of male nuclei are of the most dramatic observed to date in a living organism. IMPORTANCE Using live-cell fluorescence imaging, for the first time we have observed live male and female nuclei during sexual reproduction in the model fungus Neurospora crassa. This study reveals the specific behavior of resident female nuclei within the trichogyne (the female organ) after fertilization and the extraordinary manner in which male nuclei migrate across the trichogyne toward their final destination, the protoperithecium, where karyogamy takes place. Importantly, the speed and deformation of male nuclei were found to be among the most dramatic ever observed in a living organism. Furthermore, we observed that entry of male nuclei into protoperithecia may block the entry of other male nuclei, suggesting that a process analogous to polyspermy avoidance could exist in fungi. Our live-cell imaging approach opens new opportunities for novel research on cell-signaling during sexual reproduction in fungi and, on a broader scale, nuclear dynamics in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Brun
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, CNRS UMR 8236, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Hsiao-Che Kuo
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Chris E. Jeffree
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Darren D. Thomson
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity, and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity, and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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94
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The Role of Emerin in Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011289. [PMID: 34681951 PMCID: PMC8537873 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
It is commonly recognized in the field that cancer cells exhibit changes in the size and shape of their nuclei. These features often serve as important biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. Nuclear size can significantly impact cell migration due to its incredibly large size. Nuclear structural changes are predicted to regulate cancer cell migration. Nuclear abnormalities are common across a vast spectrum of cancer types, regardless of tissue source, mutational spectrum, and signaling dependencies. The pervasiveness of nuclear alterations suggests that changes in nuclear structure may be crucially linked to the transformation process. The factors driving these nuclear abnormalities, and the functional consequences, are not completely understood. Nuclear envelope proteins play an important role in regulating nuclear size and structure in cancer. Altered expression of nuclear lamina proteins, including emerin, is found in many cancers and this expression is correlated with better clinical outcomes. A model is emerging whereby emerin, as well as other nuclear lamina proteins, binding to the nucleoskeleton regulates the nuclear structure to impact metastasis. In this model, emerin and lamins play a central role in metastatic transformation, since decreased emerin expression during transformation causes the nuclear structural defects required for increased cell migration, intravasation, and extravasation. Herein, we discuss the cellular functions of nuclear lamina proteins, with a particular focus on emerin, and how these functions impact cancer progression and metastasis.
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95
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Amar K, Wei F, Chen J, Wang N. Effects of forces on chromatin. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041503. [PMID: 34661040 PMCID: PMC8516479 DOI: 10.1063/5.0065302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin is a unique structure of DNA and histone proteins in the cell nucleus and the site of dynamic regulation of gene expression. Soluble factors are known to affect the chromatin structure and function via activating or inhibiting specific transcription factors. Forces on chromatin come from exogenous stresses on the cell surface and/or endogenous stresses, which are regulated by substrate mechanics, geometry, and topology. Forces on chromatin involve direct (via adhesion molecules, cytoskeleton, and the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complexes) and indirect (via diffusion and/or translocation processes) signaling pathways to modulate levels of chromatin folding and deformation to regulate transcription, which is controlled by histone modifications and depends on magnitude, direction, rate/frequency, duration, and modes of stresses. The rapid force transmission pathway activates multiple genes simultaneously, and the force may act like a "supertranscription factor." The indirect mechanotransduction pathways and the rapid force transmission pathway together exert sustained impacts on the chromatin, the nucleus, and cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshitij Amar
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Fuxiang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Junwei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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Abstract
The cell nucleus is best known as the container of the genome. Its envelope provides a barrier for passive macromolecule diffusion, which enhances the control of gene expression. As its largest and stiffest organelle, the nucleus also defines the minimal space requirements of a cell. Internal or external pressures that deform a cell to its physical limits cause a corresponding nuclear deformation. Evidence is consolidating that the nucleus, in addition to its genetic functions, serves as a physical sensing device for critical cell body deformation. Nuclear mechanotransduction allows cells to adapt their acute behaviors, mechanical stability, paracrine signaling, and fate to their physical surroundings. This review summarizes the basic chemical and mechanical properties of nuclear components, and how these properties are thought to be utilized for mechanosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Niethammer
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
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Wang Q, Duan M, Liao J, Xie J, Zhou C. Are Osteoclasts Mechanosensitive Cells? J Biomed Nanotechnol 2021; 17:1917-1938. [PMID: 34706793 DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2021.3171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Skeleton metabolism is a process in which osteoclasts constantly remove old bone and osteoblasts form new osteoid and induce mineralization; disruption of this balance may cause diseases. Osteoclasts play a key role in bone metabolism, as osteoclastogenesis marks the beginning of each bone remodeling cycle. As the only cell capable of bone resorption, osteoclasts are derived from the monocyte/macrophage hematopoietic precursors that terminally adhere to mineralized extracellular matrix, and they subsequently break down the extracellular compartment. Bone is generally considered the load-burdening tissue, bone homeostasis is critically affected by mechanical conductions, and the bone cells are mechanosensitive. The functions of various bone cells under mechanical forces such as chondrocytes and osteoblasts have been reported; however, the unique bone-resorbing osteoclasts are less studied. The oversuppression of osteoclasts in mechanical studies may be because of its complicated differentiation progress and flexible structure, which increases difficulty in targeting mechanical structures. This paper will focus on recent findings regarding osteoclasts and attempt to uncover proposed candidate mechanosensing structures in osteoclasts including podosome-associated complexes, gap junctions and transient receptor potential family (ion channels). We will additionally describe possible mechanotransduction signaling pathways including GTPase ras homologue family member A (RhoA), Yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), Ca2+ signaling and non-canonical Wnt signaling. According to numerous studies, evaluating the possible influence of various physical environments on osteoclastogenesis is conducive to the study of bone homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Mengmeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Jingfeng Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Chenchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
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98
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Nuclear Dynamics and Chromatin Structure: Implications for Pancreatic Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102624. [PMID: 34685604 PMCID: PMC8534098 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in nuclear shape have been extensively associated with the dynamics and functionality of cancer cells. In most normal cells, nuclei have a regular ellipsoid shape and minimal variation in nuclear size; however, an irregular nuclear contour and abnormal nuclear size is often observed in cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, alterations in nuclear morphology have become the 'gold standard' for tumor staging and grading. Beyond the utility of altered nuclear morphology as a diagnostic tool in cancer, the implications of altered nuclear structure for the biology and behavior of cancer cells are profound as changes in nuclear morphology could impact cellular responses to physical strain, adaptation during migration, chromatin organization, and gene expression. Here, we aim to highlight and discuss the factors that regulate nuclear dynamics and their implications for pancreatic cancer biology.
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99
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Birks S, Uzer G. At the nuclear envelope of bone mechanobiology. Bone 2021; 151:116023. [PMID: 34051417 PMCID: PMC8600447 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The nuclear envelope and nucleoskeleton are emerging as signaling centers that regulate how physical information from the extracellular matrix is biochemically transduced into the nucleus, affecting chromatin and controlling cell function. Bone is a mechanically driven tissue that relies on physical information to maintain its physiological function and structure. Disorder that present with musculoskeletal and cardiac symptoms, such as Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophies and progeria, correlate with mutations in nuclear envelope proteins including Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, Lamin A/C, and emerin. However, the role of nuclear envelope mechanobiology on bone function remains underexplored. The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) model is perhaps the most studied relationship between bone regulation and nuclear envelope function. MSCs maintain the musculoskeletal system by differentiating into multiple cell types including osteocytes and adipocytes, thus supporting the bone's ability to respond to mechanical challenge. In this review, we will focus on how MSC function is regulated by mechanical challenges both in vitro and in vivo within the context of bone function specifically focusing on integrin, β-catenin and YAP/TAZ signaling. The importance of the nuclear envelope will be explored within the context of musculoskeletal diseases related to nuclear envelope protein mutations and nuclear envelope regulation of signaling pathways relevant to bone mechanobiology in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Birks
- Boise State University, Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, United States of America
| | - Gunes Uzer
- Boise State University, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, United States of America.
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Abstract
The corneal epithelium (CE) forms the outermost layer of the cornea. Despite its thickness of only 50 μm, the CE plays a key role as an initial barrier against any insults to the eye and contributes to the light refraction onto the retina required for clear vision. In the event of an injury, the cornea is equipped with many strategies contributing to competent wound healing, including angiogenic and immune privileges, and mechanotransduction. Various factors, including growth factors, keratin, cytokines, integrins, crystallins, basement membrane, and gap junction proteins are involved in CE wound healing and serve as markers in the healing process. Studies of CE wound healing are advancing rapidly in tandem with the rise of corneal bioengineering, which employs limbal epithelial stem cells as the primary source of cells utilizing various types of biomaterials as substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norzana Abd Ghafar
- Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nahdia Afiifah Abdul Jalil
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Taty Anna Kamarudin
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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