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Sarantelli E, Mourkakis A, Zacharia LC, Stylianou A, Gkretsi V. Fascin-1 in Cancer Cell Metastasis: Old Target-New Insights. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11253. [PMID: 37511011 PMCID: PMC10379093 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411253] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As metastasis is responsible for most cancer-related deaths, understanding the cellular and molecular events that lead to cancer cell migration and invasion will certainly provide insights into novel anti-metastatic therapeutic targets. Fascin-1 is an actin-bundling protein fundamental to all physiological or pathological processes that require cell migration. It is responsible for cross-linking actin microfilaments during the formation of actin-rich cellular structures at the leading edge of migrating cells such as filopodia, lamellipodia and invadopodia. While most epithelial tissues express low levels of Fascin-1, it is dramatically elevated in the majority of cancers and its expression has been associated with more aggressive disease and decreased overall survival. Hence, it has been proposed as a potential anti-cancer target. In the present review, we studied recent literature with regard to Fascin-1 expression in different cancers, its role in altering the mechanical properties of cancer cells, promoting cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis and the effect of its inhibition, via various pharmacological inhibitors, in eliminating metastasis in vitro and/or in vivo. Recent studies corroborate the notion that Fascin-1 is critically involved in metastasis and prove that it is a valuable anti-metastatic target that is worth investigating further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Sarantelli
- Biological Sciences Program, Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
| | - Apostolis Mourkakis
- Cancer Metastasis and Adhesion Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC), European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
| | - Lefteris C Zacharia
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- Cancer Mechanobiology and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC), European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
| | - Vasiliki Gkretsi
- Cancer Metastasis and Adhesion Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC), European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
- Biomedical Sciences Program , Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
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2
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Demosthene B, Lee M, Marracino RR, Heidings JB, Kang EH. Molecular Basis for Actin Polymerization Kinetics Modulated by Solution Crowding. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050786. [PMID: 37238656 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Actin polymerization drives cell movement and provides cells with structural integrity. Intracellular environments contain high concentrations of solutes, including organic compounds, macromolecules, and proteins. Macromolecular crowding has been shown to affect actin filament stability and bulk polymerization kinetics. However, the molecular mechanisms behind how crowding influences individual actin filament assembly are not well understood. In this study, we investigated how crowding modulates filament assembly kinetics using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy imaging and pyrene fluorescence assays. The elongation rates of individual actin filaments analyzed from TIRF imaging depended on the type of crowding agent (polyethylene glycol, bovine serum albumin, and sucrose) as well as their concentrations. Further, we utilized all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate the effects of crowding molecules on the diffusion of actin monomers during filament assembly. Taken together, our data suggest that solution crowding can regulate actin assembly kinetics at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Demosthene
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Myeongsang Lee
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Ryan R Marracino
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - James B Heidings
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Ellen Hyeran Kang
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
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Lehne F, Bogdan S. Getting cells into shape by calcium-dependent actin cross-linking proteins. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1171930. [PMID: 37025173 PMCID: PMC10070769 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1171930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton represents a highly dynamic filament system providing cell structure and mechanical forces to drive a variety of cellular processes. The dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton are controlled by a number of conserved proteins that maintain the pool of actin monomers, promote actin nucleation, restrict the length of actin filaments and cross-link filaments into networks or bundles. Previous work has been established that cytoplasmic calcium is an important signal to rapidly relay information to the actin cytoskeleton, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we summarize new recent perspectives on how calcium fluxes are transduced to the actin cytoskeleton in a physiological context. In this mini-review we will focus on three calcium-binding EF-hand-containing actin cross-linking proteins, α-actinin, plastin and EFHD2/Swiprosin-1, and how these conserved proteins affect the cell's actin reorganization in the context of cell migration and wound closure in response to calcium.
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Rivas G, Minton A. Influence of Nonspecific Interactions on Protein Associations: Implications for Biochemistry In Vivo. Annu Rev Biochem 2022; 91:321-351. [PMID: 35287477 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-040320-104151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The cellular interior is composed of a variety of microenvironments defined by distinct local compositions and composition-dependent intermolecular interactions. We review the various types of nonspecific interactions between proteins and between proteins and other macromolecules and supramolecular structures that influence the state of association and functional properties of a given protein existing within a particular microenvironment at a particular point in time. The present state of knowledge is summarized, and suggestions for fruitful directions of research are offered. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 91 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Rivas
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain;
| | - Allen Minton
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
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5
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Castaneda N, Feuillie C, Molinari M, Kang EH. Actin Bundle Nanomechanics and Organization Are Modulated by Macromolecular Crowding and Electrostatic Interactions. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:760950. [PMID: 34901154 PMCID: PMC8662701 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.760950] [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: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural and mechanical properties of actin bundles are essential to eukaryotic cells, aiding in cell motility and mechanical support of the plasma membrane. Bundle formation occurs in crowded intracellular environments composed of various ions and macromolecules. Although the roles of cations and macromolecular crowding in the mechanics and organization of actin bundles have been independently established, how changing both intracellular environmental conditions influence bundle mechanics at the nanoscale has yet to be established. Here we investigate how electrostatics and depletion interactions modulate the relative Young’s modulus and height of actin bundles using atomic force microscopy. Our results demonstrate that cation- and depletion-induced bundles display an overall reduction of relative Young’s modulus depending on either cation or crowding concentrations. Furthermore, we directly measure changes to cation- and depletion-induced bundle height, indicating that bundles experience alterations to filament packing supporting the reduction to relative Young’s modulus. Taken together, our work suggests that electrostatic and depletion interactions may act counteractively, impacting actin bundle nanomechanics and organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Castaneda
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States.,Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Cecile Feuillie
- Institute of Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nano-objects, CBMN CNRS UMR 5248, IPB, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Michael Molinari
- Institute of Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nano-objects, CBMN CNRS UMR 5248, IPB, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Ellen Hyeran Kang
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States.,Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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Castaneda N, Park J, Kang EH. Regulation of Actin Bundle Mechanics and Structure by Intracellular Environmental Factors. FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS 2021; 9:675885. [PMID: 34422787 PMCID: PMC8376200 DOI: 10.3389/fphy.2021.675885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical and structural properties of actin cytoskeleton drive various cellular processes, including structural support of the plasma membrane and cellular motility. Actin monomers assemble into double-stranded helical filaments as well as higher-ordered structures such as bundles and networks. Cells incorporate macromolecular crowding, cation interactions, and actin-crosslinking proteins to regulate the organization of actin bundles. Although the roles of each of these factors in actin bundling have been well-known individually, how combined factors contribute to actin bundle assembly, organization, and mechanics is not fully understood. Here, we describe recent studies that have investigated the mechanisms of how intracellular environmental factors influence actin bundling. This review highlights the effects of macromolecular crowding, cation interactions, and actin-crosslinking proteins on actin bundle organization, structure, and mechanics. Understanding these mechanisms is important in determining in vivo actin biophysics and providing insights into cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Castaneda
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Jinho Park
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Ellen Hyeran Kang
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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