The Role of Mitotic Cell-Substrate Adhesion Re-modeling in Animal Cell Division

A simple active fluid model unites cytokinesis, cell crawling, and axonal outgrowth

Axonal outgrowth, cell crawling, and cytokinesis utilize actomyosin, microtubule-based motors, cytoskeletal dynamics, and substrate adhesions to produce traction forces and bulk cellular motion. While it has long been appreciated that growth cones resemble crawling cells and that the mechanisms that drive cytokinesis help power cell crawling, they are typically viewed as unique processes. To better understand the relationship between these modes of motility, here, we developed a unified active fluid model of cytokinesis, amoeboid migration, mesenchymal migration, neuronal migration, and axonal outgrowth in terms of cytoskeletal flow, adhesions, viscosity, and force generation. Using numerical modeling, we fit subcellular velocity profiles of the motions of cytoskeletal structures and docked organelles from previously published studies to infer underlying patterns of force generation and adhesion. Our results indicate that, during cytokinesis, there is a primary converge zone at the cleavage furrow that drives flow towards it; adhesions are symmetric across the cell, and as a result, cells are stationary. In mesenchymal, amoeboid, and neuronal migration, the site of the converge zone shifts, and differences in adhesion between the front and back of the cell drive crawling. During neuronal migration and axonal outgrowth, the primary convergence zone lies within the growth cone, which drives actin retrograde flow in the P-domain and bulk anterograde flow of the axonal shaft. They differ in that during neuronal migration, the cell body is weakly attached to the substrate and thus moves forward at the same velocity as the axon. In contrast, during axonal outgrowth, the cell body strongly adheres to the substrate and remains stationary, resulting in a decrease in flow velocity away from the growth cone. The simplicity with which cytokinesis, cell crawling, and axonal outgrowth can be modeled by varying coefficients in a simple model suggests a deep connection between them.

Disruption of epithelium integrity by inflammation-associated fibroblasts through prostaglandin signaling

Inflammation-associated fibroblasts (IAFs) are associated with progression and drug resistance of chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but their direct impact on epithelial cells is unknown. Here, we developed an in vitro model whereby human colon fibroblasts are induced by specific cytokines and recapitulate key features of IAFs in vivo. When cocultured with patient-derived colon organoids (colonoids), IAFs induced rapid colonoid expansion and barrier disruption due to swelling and rupture of individual epithelial cells. Colonoids cocultured with IAFs also show increased DNA damage, mitotic errors, and proliferation arrest. These IAF-induced epithelial defects are mediated by a paracrine pathway involving prostaglandin E2 and its receptor EP4, leading to protein kinase A -dependent activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. EP4-specific chemical inhibitors effectively prevented IAF-induced colonoid swelling and restored normal proliferation and genome stability. These findings reveal a mechanism by which IAFs could promote and perpetuate IBD and suggest a therapeutic avenue to mitigate inflammation-associated epithelial injury.

The LINC complex ensures accurate centrosome positioning during prophase

Accurate centrosome separation and positioning during early mitosis relies on force-generating mechanisms regulated by a combination of extracellular, cytoplasmic, and nuclear cues. The identity of the nuclear cues involved in this process remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate how the prophase nucleus contributes to centrosome positioning during the initial stages of mitosis, using a combination of cell micropatterning, high-resolution live-cell imaging, and quantitative 3D cellular reconstruction. We show that in untransformed RPE-1 cells, centrosome positioning is regulated by a nuclear signal, independently of external cues. This nuclear mechanism relies on the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex that controls the timely loading of dynein on the nuclear envelope (NE), providing spatial cues for robust centrosome positioning on the shortest nuclear axis, before nuclear envelope permeabilization. Our results demonstrate how nuclear-cytoskeletal coupling maintains a robust centrosome positioning mechanism to ensure efficient mitotic spindle assembly.

Interplay between the plasma membrane and cell-cell adhesion maintains epithelial identity for correct polarised cell divisions

Polarised epithelial cell divisions represent a fundamental mechanism for tissue maintenance and morphogenesis. Morphological and mechanical changes in the plasma membrane influence the organisation and crosstalk of microtubules and actin at the cell cortex, thereby regulating the mitotic spindle machinery and chromosome segregation. Yet, the precise mechanisms linking plasma membrane remodelling to cell polarity and cortical cytoskeleton dynamics to ensure accurate execution of mitosis in mammalian epithelial cells remain poorly understood. Here, we manipulated the density of mammary epithelial cells in culture, which led to several mitotic defects. Perturbation of cell-cell adhesion formation impairs the dynamics of the plasma membrane, affecting the shape and size of mitotic cells and resulting in defects in mitotic progression and the generation of daughter cells with aberrant architecture. In these conditions, F- actin-astral microtubule crosstalk is impaired, leading to mitotic spindle misassembly and misorientation, which in turn contributes to chromosome mis-segregation. Mechanistically, we identify S100 Ca2+-binding protein A11 (S100A11) as a key membrane-associated regulator that forms a complex with E-cadherin (CDH1) and the leucine-glycine-asparagine repeat protein LGN (also known as GPSM2) to coordinate plasma membrane remodelling with E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and LGN-dependent mitotic spindle machinery. Thus, plasma membrane-mediated maintenance of mammalian epithelial cell identity is crucial for correct execution of polarised cell divisions, genome maintenance and safeguarding tissue integrity.

An mTurq2-Col4a1 mouse model allows for live visualization of mammalian basement membrane development

Basement membranes (BMs) are specialized sheets of extracellular matrix that underlie epithelial and endothelial tissues. BMs regulate the traffic of cells and molecules between compartments, and participate in signaling, cell migration, and organogenesis. The dynamics of mammalian BMs, however, are poorly understood, largely due to a lack of models in which core BM components are endogenously labeled. Here, we describe the mTurquoise2-Col4a1 mouse in which we fluorescently tag collagen IV, the main component of BMs. Using an innovative planar-sagittal live imaging technique to visualize the BM of developing skin, we directly observe BM deformation during hair follicle budding and basal progenitor cell divisions. The BM's inherent pliability enables dividing cells to remain attached to and deform the BM, rather than lose adhesion as generally thought. Using FRAP, we show BM collagen IV is extremely stable, even during periods of rapid epidermal growth. These findings demonstrate the utility of the mTurq2-Col4a1 mouse to shed new light on mammalian BM developmental dynamics.

Mechanisms underlying Myosin 10's contribution to the maintenance of mitotic spindle bipolarity

Myosin 10 (Myo10) couples microtubules and integrin-based adhesions to movement along actin filaments via its microtubule-binding MyTH4 domain and integrin-binding FERM domain, respectively. Here we show that Myo10-depleted HeLa cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) both exhibit a pronounced increase in the frequency of multipolar spindles. Staining of unsynchronized metaphase cells showed that the primary driver of spindle multipolarity in Myo10-depleted MEFs and in Myo10-depleted HeLa cells lacking supernumerary centrosomes is pericentriolar material (PCM) fragmentation, which creates y-tubulin-positive acentriolar foci that serve as extra spindle poles. For HeLa cells possessing supernumerary centrosomes, Myo10 depletion further accentuates spindle multipolarity by impairing the clustering of the extra spindle poles. Complementation experiments show that Myo10 must interact with both microtubules and integrins to promote PCM/pole integrity. Conversely, Myo10 only needs interact with integrins to promote supernumerary centrosome clustering. Importantly, images of metaphase Halo-Myo10 knockin cells show that the myosin localizes exclusively to the spindle and the tips of adhesive retraction fibers. We conclude that Myo10 promotes PCM/pole integrity in part by interacting with spindle microtubules, and that it promotes supernumerary centrosome clustering by supporting retraction fiber-based cell adhesion, which likely serves to anchor the microtubule-based forces driving pole focusing.

Cell cycle control by cell-matrix interactions

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is required for normal cell cycle progression and accurate cell division. However, how cell adhesion to the wide range of ECM proteins found in human tissues influences the cell cycle is not fully understood. The composition and physical properties of the ECM can have profound effects on cell proliferation but can also promote cell cycle exit and quiescence. Furthermore, during tumor development and progression, changes in the ECM can drive both cancer cell proliferation and dormancy. Cell-matrix adhesion is primarily sensed via integrin-associated adhesion complexes, which in turn are regulated by the cell cycle machinery. In particular, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) has been shown to play a crucial role in regulating adhesion complexes during interphase and entry into mitosis. These reciprocal links between cell cycle progression and cell-matrix interactions are now being identified.

Phosphotyrosine proteomics in cells synchronized at monopolar cytokinesis reveals EphA2 as functioning in cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is the final step of the cell division in which cellular components are separated into two daughter cells. This process is regulated through the phosphorylation of different classes of proteins by serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinases such as Aurora B and Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). Conversely, the role of phosphorylation at tyrosine residues during cytokinesis has not been studied in detail yet. In this study, we performed a phosphotyrosine proteomic analysis of cells undergoing monopolar cytokinesis synchronized by using the Eg5 inhibitor (+)-S-trityl-l-cysteine (STLC) and the CDK1 inhibitor RO-3306. Phosphotyrosine proteomics gave 362 tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides. Western blot analysis of proteins revealed tyrosine phosphorylation in mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), vimentin, ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2), and myelin protein zero-like protein 1 (MPZL1) during monopolar cytokinesis. Additionally, we demonstrated that EphA2, a protein with unknown function during cytokinesis, is involved in cytokinesis. EphA2 knockdown accelerated epithelial cell transforming 2 (Ect2) knockdown-induced multinucleation, suggesting that EphA2 plays a role in cytokinesis in a particular situation. The list also included many proteins previously reported to play roles during cytokinesis. These results evidence that the identified phosphopeptides facilitate the identification of novel tyrosine phosphorylation signaling involved in regulating cytokinesis.

Disruption of Epithelium Integrity by Inflammation-Associated Fibroblasts through Prostaglandin Signaling: IAFs disrupt colon epithelium via PGE2-EP4

Inflammation-associated fibroblasts (IAFs) are associated with the progression and drug resistance of chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but their direct impact on epithelial function and architecture is unknown. In this study, we developed an in vitro model whereby human colon fibroblasts are induced to become IAFs by specific cytokines and recapitulate key features of IAFs in vivo. When co-cultured with patient-derived colon organoids (colonoids), IAFs induced rapid colonoid swelling and barrier disruption due to swelling and rupture of individual epithelial cells. Epithelial cells co-cultured with IAFs also exhibit increased DNA damage, mitotic errors, and proliferation arrest. These IAF-induced epithelial defects are mediated through a paracrine pathway involving prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the PGE2 receptor EP4, leading to PKA-dependent activation of the CFTR chloride channel. Importantly, EP4-specific chemical inhibitors effectively prevented colonoid swelling and restored normal proliferation and genome stability of IAF-exposed epithelial cells. These findings reveal a mechanism by which IAFs could promote and perpetuate IBD and suggest a potential treatment to mitigate inflammation-associated epithelial injury.

A Window into Mammalian Basement Membrane Development: Insights from the mTurq2-Col4a1 Mouse Model

Basement membranes (BMs) are specialized sheets of extracellular matrix that underlie epithelial and endothelial tissues. BMs regulate traffic of cells and molecules between compartments, and participate in signaling, cell migration and organogenesis. The dynamics of mammalian BMs, however, are poorly understood, largely due to a lack of models in which core BM components are endogenously labelled. Here, we describe the mTurquoise2-Col4a1 mouse, in which we fluorescently tag collagen IV, the main component of BMs. Using an innovative Planar-Sagittal live imaging technique to visualize the BM of developing skin, we directly observe BM deformation during hair follicle budding and basal progenitor cell divisions. The BM's inherent pliability enables dividing cells to remain attached to and deform the BM, rather than lose adhesion as generally thought. Using FRAP, we show BM collagen IV is extremely stable, even during periods of rapid epidermal growth. These findings demonstrate the utility of the mTurq2-Col4a1 mouse to shed new light on mammalian BM developmental dynamics.

Anillin forms linear structures and facilitates furrow ingression after septin and formin depletion

During cytokinesis, a contractile ring consisting of unbranched filamentous actin (F-actin) and myosin II constricts at the cell equator. Unbranched F-actin is generated by formin, and without formin no cleavage furrow forms. In Caenorhabditis elegans, depletion of septin restores furrow ingression in formin mutants. How the cleavage furrow ingresses without a detectable unbranched F-actin ring is unknown. We report that, in this setting, anillin (ANI-1) forms a meshwork of circumferentially aligned linear structures decorated by non-muscle myosin II (NMY-2). Analysis of ANI-1 deletion mutants reveals that its disordered N-terminal half is required for linear structure formation and sufficient for furrow ingression. NMY-2 promotes the circumferential alignment of the linear ANI-1 structures and interacts with various lipids, suggesting that NMY-2 links the ANI-1 network with the plasma membrane. Collectively, our data reveal a compensatory mechanism, mediated by ANI-1 linear structures and membrane-bound NMY-2, that promotes furrowing when unbranched F-actin polymerization is compromised.

Use of Chitosan from Southern King Crab to Develop Films Functionalized with RGD Peptides for Potential Tissue Engineering Applications

Southern King Crab (SKC) represents an important fishery resource that has the potential to be a natural source of chitosan (CS) production. In tissue engineering, CS is very useful to generate biomaterials. However, CS has a lack of signaling molecules that facilitate cell-substrate interaction. Therefore, RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) peptides corresponding to the main integrin recognition site in extracellular matrix proteins have been used to improve the CS surface. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro cell adhesion and proliferation of CS films synthesized from SKC shell wastes functionalized with RGD peptides. The FTIR spectrum of CS isolated from SKC shells (SKC-CS) was comparable to commercial CS. Thermal properties of films showed similar endothermic peaks at 53.4 and 53.0 °C in commercial CS and SKC-CS, respectively. The purification and molecular masses of the synthesized RGD peptides were confirmed using HPLC and ESI-MS mass spectrometry, respectively. Mouse embryonic fibroblast cells showed higher adhesion on SKC-CS (1% w/v) film when it was functionalized with linear RGD peptides. In contrast, a cyclic RGD peptide showed similar adhesion to control peptide (RDG), but the highest cell proliferation was after 48 h of culture. This study shows that functionalization of SKC-CS films with linear or cyclic RGD peptides are useful to improve effects on cell adhesion or cell proliferation. Furthermore, our work contributes to knowledge of a new source of CS to synthesize constructs for tissue engineering applications.

Oncogenic Ras deregulates cell-substrate interactions during mitotic rounding and respreading to alter cell division orientation

Oncogenic Ras has been shown to change the way cancer cells divide by increasing the forces generated during mitotic rounding. In this way, RasV12 enables cancer cells to divide across a wider range of mechanical environments than normal cells. Here, we identify a further role for oncogenic Ras-ERK signaling in division by showing that RasV12 expression alters the shape, division orientation, and respreading dynamics of cells as they exit mitosis. Many of these effects appear to result from the impact of RasV12 signaling on actomyosin contractility, because RasV12 induces the severing of retraction fibers that normally guide spindle positioning and provide a memory of the interphase cell shape. In support of this idea, the RasV12 phenotype is reversed by inhibition of actomyosin contractility and can be mimicked by the loss of cell-substrate adhesion during mitosis. Finally, we show that RasV12 activation also perturbs division orientation in cells cultured in 2D epithelial monolayers and 3D spheroids. Thus, the induction of oncogenic Ras-ERK signaling leads to rapid changes in division orientation that, along with the effects of RasV12 on cell growth and cell-cycle progression, are likely to disrupt epithelial tissue organization and contribute to cancer dissemination.

Myosin 10 uses its MyTH4 and FERM domains differentially to support two aspects of spindle pole biology required for mitotic spindle bipolarity

Myosin 10 (Myo10) has the ability to link actin filaments to integrin-based adhesions and to microtubules by virtue of its integrin-binding FERM domain and microtubule-binding MyTH4 domain, respectively. Here we used Myo10 knockout cells to define Myo10's contribution to the maintenance of spindle bipolarity, and complementation to quantitate the relative contributions of its MyTH4 and FERM domains. Myo10 knockout HeLa cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) both exhibit a pronounced increase in the frequency of multipolar spindles. Staining of unsynchronized metaphase cells showed that the primary driver of spindle multipolarity in knockout MEFs and knockout HeLa cells lacking supernumerary centrosomes is pericentriolar material (PCM) fragmentation, which creates γ-tubulin-positive acentriolar foci that serve as additional spindle poles. For HeLa cells possessing supernumerary centrosomes, Myo10 depletion further accentuates spindle multipolarity by impairing the clustering of the extra spindle poles. Complementation experiments show that Myo10 must interact with both integrins and microtubules to promote PCM/pole integrity. Conversely, Myo10's ability to promote the clustering of supernumerary centrosomes only requires that it interact with integrins. Importantly, images of Halo-Myo10 knock-in cells show that the myosin localizes exclusively within adhesive retraction fibers during mitosis. Based on these and other results, we conclude that Myo10 promotes PCM/pole integrity at a distance, and that it facilitates supernumerary centrosome clustering by promoting retraction fiber-based cell adhesion, which likely provides an anchor for the microtubule-based forces driving pole focusing.

Dynamics of cell rounding during detachment

Animal cells undergo repeated shape changes, for example by rounding up and respreading as they divide. Cell rounding can be also observed in interphase cells, for example when cancer cells switch from a mesenchymal to an ameboid mode of cell migration. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how interphase cells round up. In this article, we demonstrate that a partial loss of substrate adhesion triggers actomyosin-dependent cortical remodeling and ERM activation, which facilitates further adhesion loss causing cells to round. Although the path of rounding in this case superficially resembles mitotic rounding in involving ERM phosphorylation, retraction fiber formation, and cortical remodeling downstream of ROCK, it does not require Ect2. This work provides insights into the way partial loss of adhesion actives cortical remodeling to drive cell detachment from the substrate. This is important to consider when studying the mechanics of cells in suspension, for example using methods like real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC).

Kinetics of Arf1 inactivation regulates Golgi organisation and function in non-adherent fibroblasts

Arf1 belongs to the Arf family of small GTPases that localise at the Golgi and plasma membrane. Active Arf1 plays a crucial role in regulating Golgi organisation and function. In mouse fibroblasts, loss of adhesion triggers a consistent drop (∼50%) in Arf1 activation that causes the Golgi to disorganise but not fragment. In suspended cells, the trans-Golgi (GalTase) disperses more prominently than cis-Golgi (Man II), accompanied by increased active Arf1 (detected using GFP-ABD: ARHGAP10 Arf1 binding domain) associated with the cis-Golgi compartment. Re-adhesion restores Arf1 activation at the trans-Golgi as it reorganises. Arf1 activation at the Golgi is regulated by Arf1 Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), GBF1, and BIG1/2. In non-adherent fibroblasts, the cis-medial Golgi provides a unique setting to test and understand the role GEF-mediated Arf1 activation has in regulating Golgi organisation. Labelled with Man II-GFP, non-adherent fibroblasts treated with increasing concentrations of Brefeldin-A (BFA) (which inhibits BIG1/2 and GBF1) or Golgicide A (GCA) (which inhibits GBF1 only) comparably decrease active Arf1 levels. They, however, cause a concentration-dependent increase in cis-medial Golgi fragmentation and fusion with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Using selected BFA and GCA concentrations, we find a change in the kinetics of Arf1 inactivation could mediate this by regulating cis-medial Golgi localisation of GBF1. On loss of adhesion, a ∼50% drop in Arf1 activation over 120 min causes the Golgi to disorganise. The kinetics of this drop, when altered by BFA or GCA treatment causes a similar decline in Arf1 activation but over 10 min. This causes the Golgi to now fragment which affects cell surface glycosylation and re-adherent cell spreading. Using non-adherent fibroblasts this study reveals the kinetics of Arf1 inactivation, with active Arf1 levels, to be vital for Golgi organisation and function.

In mitosis integrins reduce adhesion to extracellular matrix and strengthen adhesion to adjacent cells

To enter mitosis, most adherent animal cells reduce adhesion, which is followed by cell rounding. How mitotic cells regulate adhesion to neighboring cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is poorly understood. Here we report that, similar to interphase, mitotic cells can employ integrins to initiate adhesion to the ECM in a kindlin- and talin-dependent manner. However, unlike interphase cells, we find that mitotic cells cannot engage newly bound integrins to actomyosin via talin or vinculin to reinforce adhesion. We show that the missing actin connection of newly bound integrins leads to transient ECM-binding and prevents cell spreading during mitosis. Furthermore, β1 integrins strengthen the adhesion of mitotic cells to adjacent cells, which is supported by vinculin, kindlin, and talin1. We conclude that this dual role of integrins in mitosis weakens the cell-ECM adhesion and strengthens the cell-cell adhesion to prevent delamination of the rounding and dividing cell.

4D Force Detection of Cell Adhesion and Contractility

Mechanical signals establish two-way communication between mammalian cells and their environment. Cells contacting a surface exert forces via contractility and transmit them at the areas of focal adhesions. External stimuli, such as compressive and pulling forces, typically affect the adhesion-free cell surface. Here, we demonstrate the collaborative employment of Fluidic Force Microscopy and confocal Traction Force Microscopy supported by the Cellogram solver to enable a powerful integrated force probing approach, where controlled vertical forces are applied to the free surface of individual cells, while the concomitant deformations are used to map their transmission to the substrate. Force transmission across human cells is measured with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution, enabling the investigation of the cellular mechanisms involved in the adaptation, or maladaptation, to external mechanical stimuli. Altogether, the system enables facile and precise force interrogation of individual cells, with the capacity to perform population-based analysis.

A review on regulation of cell cycle by extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a network of structural proteins, glycoproteins and proteoglycans that assists independent cells in aggregating and forming highly organized functional structures. ECM serves numerous purposes and is an essential component of tissue structure and functions. Initially, the role of ECM was considered to be confined to passive functions like providing mechanical strength and structural identity to tissues, serving as barriers and platforms for cells. The doors to understanding ECM's proper role in tissue functioning opened with the discovery of cellular receptors, integrins to which ECM components binds and influences cellular activities. Understanding and utilizing ECM's potential to control cellular function has become a topic of much interest in recent decades, providing different outlooks to study processes involved in developmental programs, wound healing and tumour progression. On another front, the regulatory mechanisms operating to prevent errors in the cell cycle have been topics of a titanic amount of studies. This is expected as many diseases, most infamously cancer, are associated with defects in their functioning. This review focuses on how ECM, through different methods, influences the progression of the somatic cell cycle and provides deeper insights into molecular mechanisms of functional communication between adhesion complex, signalling pathways and cell cycle machinery.

Effects of wounds in the cell membrane on cell division

Cells are consistently subjected to wounding by physical or chemical damages from the external environment. We previously showed that a local wound of the cell membrane modulates the polarity of cell migration and the wounded cells escape from the wound site in Dictyostelium. Here, we examined effects of wounds on dividing cells. When the cell membrane at the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis was locally wounded using laserporation, furrow constriction was significantly accelerated. Neither myosin II nor cortexillins contributed to the acceleration, because the acceleration was not hindered in mutant cells deficient in these proteins. When the cell membrane outside the furrow was wounded, the furrow constriction was not accelerated. Instead, the wounded-daughter half became smaller and the unwounded half became larger, resulting in an asymmetrical cell division. These phenomena occurred independently of wound repair. When cells in anaphase were wounded at the presumptive polar region, about 30% of the wounded cells changed the orientation of the division axis. From these observations, we concluded that dividing cells also escape from the wound site. The wound experiments on dividing cells also provide new insights into the mechanism of cytokinesis and cell polarity establishment.

Scribble and E-cadherin cooperate to control symmetric daughter cell positioning by multiple mechanisms

The fate of the two daughter cells is intimately connected to their positioning, which is in turn regulated by cell junction remodelling and orientation of the mitotic spindle. How multiple cues are integrated to dictate the ultimate positioning of daughters is not clear. Here, we identify novel mechanisms of regulation of daughter positioning in single MCF10A cells. The polarity protein, Scribble cooperates with E-cadherin for sequential roles in daughter positioning. First Scribble stabilises E-cadherin at the mitotic cortex as well as the retraction fibres, to mediate spindle orientation. Second, Scribble re-locates to the junction between the two daughters to allow a new E-cadherin-based-interface to form between them, influencing the width of the nascent daughter-daughter junction and subsequent cell positioning. Thus, E-cadherin and Scribble dynamically relocate to different intracellular sites during cell division to orient the mitotic spindle and control placement of the daughter cells after cell division. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Mechanics and regulation of cytokinetic abscission

Cytokinetic abscission leads to the physical cut of the intercellular bridge (ICB) connecting the daughter cells and concludes cell division. In different animal cells, it is well established that the ESCRT-III machinery is responsible for the constriction and scission of the ICB. Here, we review the mechanical context of abscission. We first summarize the evidence that the ICB is initially under high tension and explain why, paradoxically, this can inhibit abscission in epithelial cells by impacting on ESCRT-III assembly. We next detail the different mechanisms that have been recently identified to release ICB tension and trigger abscission. Finally, we discuss whether traction-induced mechanical cell rupture could represent an ancient alternative mechanism of abscission and suggest future research avenues to further understand the role of mechanics in regulating abscission.

Insights on the Role of PGRMC1 in Mitotic and Meiotic Cell Division

During mitosis, chromosome missegregation and cytokinesis defects have been recognized as hallmarks of cancer cells. Cytoskeletal elements composing the spindle and the contractile ring and their associated proteins play crucial roles in the faithful progression of mitotic cell division. The hypothesis that PGRMC1, most likely as a part of a yet-to-be-defined complex, is involved in the regulation of spindle function and, more broadly, the cytoskeletal machinery driving cell division is particularly appealing. Nevertheless, more than ten years after the preliminary observation that PGRMC1 changes its localization dynamically during meiotic and mitotic cell division, this field of research has remained a niche and needs to be fully explored. To encourage research in this fascinating field, in this review, we will recap the current knowledge on PGRMC1 function during mitotic and meiotic cell division, critically highlighting the strengths and limitations of the experimental approaches used so far. We will focus on known interacting partners as well as new putative associated proteins that have recently arisen in the literature and that might support current as well as new hypotheses of a role for PGRMC1 in specific spindle subcompartments, such as the centrosome, kinetochores, and the midzone/midbody.

Diversity is the spice of life: An overview of how cytokinesis regulation varies with cell type

Cytokinesis is required to physically cleave a cell into two daughters at the end of mitosis. Decades of research have led to a comprehensive understanding of the core cytokinesis machinery and how it is regulated in animal cells, however this knowledge was generated using single cells cultured in vitro, or in early embryos before tissues develop. This raises the question of how cytokinesis is regulated in diverse animal cell types and developmental contexts. Recent studies of distinct cell types in the same organism or in similar cell types from different organisms have revealed striking differences in how cytokinesis is regulated, which includes different threshold requirements for the structural components and the mechanisms that regulate them. In this review, we highlight these differences with an emphasis on pathways that are independent of the mitotic spindle, and operate through signals associated with the cortex, kinetochores, or chromatin.

A review on mechanobiology of cell adhesion networks in different stages of sporadic colorectal cancer to explain its tumorigenesis

Sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) is strongly linked to extraneous factors, like poor diet and lifestyle, but not to inherent factors like familial genetics. The changes at the epigenomics and signalling pathways are known across the sporadic CRC stages. The catch is that temporal information of the onset, the feedback loop, and the crosstalk of signalling and noise are still unclear. This makes it challenging to diagnose and treat colon cancer effectively with no relapse. Various microbial cells and native cells of the colon, contribute to sporadic CRC development. These cells secrete autocrine and paracrine for their bioenergetics and communications with other cell types. Imbalances of the biochemicals affect the epithelial lining of colon. One side of this epithelial lining is interfacing the dense colon tissue, while the other side is exposed to microbiota and excrement from the lumen. Hence, the epithelial lining is prone to tumorigenesis due to the influence of both biochemical and mechanical cues from its complex surrounding. The role of physical transformations in tumorigenesis have been limitedly discussed. In this context, cellular and tissue structures, and force transductions are heavily regulated by cell adhesion networks. These networks include cell anchoring mechanism to the surrounding, cell structural integrity mechanism, and cell effector molecules. This review will focus on the progression of the sporadic CRC stages that are governed by the underlaying cell adhesion networks within the epithelial cells. Additionally, current and potential technologies and therapeutics that target cell adhesion networks for treatments of sporadic CRC will be incorporated.

How do cells stiffen?

Cell stiffness is an important characteristic of cells and their response to external stimuli. In this review, we survey methods used to measure cell stiffness, summarize stimuli that alter cell stiffness, and discuss signaling pathways and mechanisms that control cell stiffness. Several pathological states are characterized by changes in cell stiffness, suggesting this property can serve as a potential diagnostic marker or therapeutic target. Therefore, we consider the effect of cell stiffness on signaling and growth processes required for homeostasis and dysfunction in healthy and pathological states. Specifically, the composition and structure of the cell membrane and cytoskeleton are major determinants of cell stiffness, and studies have identified signaling pathways that affect cytoskeletal dynamics both directly and by altered gene expression. We present the results of studies interrogating the effects of biophysical and biochemical stimuli on the cytoskeleton and other cellular components and how these factors determine the stiffness of both individual cells and multicellular structures. Overall, these studies represent an intersection of the fields of polymer physics, protein biochemistry, and mechanics, and identify specific mechanisms involved in mediating cell stiffness that can serve as therapeutic targets.

Mechanical regulation of cell-cycle progression and division

Cell-cycle progression and division are fundamental biological processes in animal cells, and their biochemical regulation has been extensively studied. An emerging body of work has revealed how mechanical interactions of cells with their microenvironment in tissues, including with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and neighboring cells, also plays a crucial role in regulating cell-cycle progression and division. We review recent work on how cells interpret physical cues and alter their mechanics to promote cell-cycle progression and initiate cell division, and then on how dividing cells generate forces on their surrounding microenvironment to successfully divide. Finally, the article ends by discussing how force generation during division potentially contributes to larger tissue-scale processes involved in development and homeostasis.

An anillin-CIN85-SEPT9 complex promotes intercellular bridge maturation required for successful cytokinesis

Cleavage of one cell into two is the most dramatic event in the life of a cell. Plasma membrane fission occurs within a narrow intercellular bridge (ICB) between the daughter cells, but the mechanisms underlying ICB formation and maturation are poorly understood. Here we identify CIN85 as an ICB assembly factor and demonstrate its requirement for robust and timely cytokinesis. CIN85 interacts directly with the N-terminal region of anillin and SEPT9 and thereby facilitates SEPT9-containing filament localization to the plasma membrane of the ICB. In contrast, the C-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of anillin binds to septin units lacking SEPT9 but enriched in SEPT11. Anillin's interactions with distinct septin units are required to promote ICB elongation and maturation that, we propose, generate the physical space into which the abscission machinery is recruited to drive the final membrane scission event releasing two independent daughter cells.

Local synthesis of the phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate lipid drives focal adhesion turnover

Focal adhesions are multifunctional organelles that couple cell-matrix adhesion to cytoskeletal force transmission and signaling and to steer cell migration and collective cell behavior. Whereas proteomic changes at focal adhesions are well understood, little is known about signaling lipids in focal adhesion dynamics. Through the characterization of cells from mice with a kinase-inactivating point mutation in the class II PI3K-C2β, we find that generation of the phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P₂) membrane lipid promotes focal adhesion disassembly in response to changing environmental conditions. We show that reduced growth factor signaling sensed by protein kinase N, an mTORC2 target and effector of RhoA, synergizes with the adhesion disassembly factor DEPDC1B to induce local synthesis of PtdIns(3,4)P₂ by PI3K-C2β. PtdIns(3,4)P₂ then promotes turnover of RhoA-dependent stress fibers by recruiting the PtdIns(3,4)P₂-dependent RhoA-GTPase-activating protein ARAP3. Our findings uncover a pathway by which cessation of growth factor signaling facilitates cell-matrix adhesion disassembly via a phosphoinositide lipid switch.

Molecular determinants of αVβ5 localization in flat clathrin lattices: Role of αVβ5 in cell adhesion and proliferation

The vitronectin receptor integrin αVβ5 can reside in two distinct adhesion structures: focal adhesions (FAs) and flat clathrin lattices (FCLs). Here we investigated the mechanism that regulates the subcellular distribution of β5 in keratinocytes and show that β5 has approximately 7- and 5-fold higher affinity for the clathrin adaptors ARH and Numb, respectively, than for talin; all proteins that bind to the membrane-proximal NPxY motif of the β5 cytoplasmic domain. Using mass spectrometry, we identified β5 interactors including the Rho GEFs p115Rho-GEF and GEF-H1, and the serine protein kinase MARK2; depletion of which diminishes the clustering of β5 in FCLs. Substitution of two serines (S759/762) in the β5 cytoplasmic domain with phospho-mimetic glutamates causes a shift in the localization of β5 from FAs into FCLs without affecting the interactions with MARK2, p115Rho-GEF or GEF-H1. Instead, we demonstrate that changes in the actomyosin-based cellular contractility by ectopic expression of activated Rho or disruption of microtubules regulates β5 localization. Finally, we present evidence that β5 in either FAs or FCLs functions to promote adhesion to vitronectin, cell spreading, and proliferation.

CDK1-cyclin-B1-induced kindlin degradation drives focal adhesion disassembly at mitotic entry

The disassembly of integrin-containing focal adhesions (FAs) at mitotic entry is essential for cell rounding, mitotic retraction fibre formation, bipolar spindle positioning and chromosome segregation. The mechanism that drives FA disassembly at mitotic entry is unknown. Here, we show that the CDK1–cyclin B1 complex phosphorylates the integrin activator kindlin, which results in the recruitment of the cullin 9–FBXL10 ubiquitin ligase complex that mediates kindlin ubiquitination and degradation. This molecular pathway is essential for FA disassembly and cell rounding, as phospho-inhibitory mutations of the CDK1 motif prevent kindlin degradation, FA disassembly and mitotic cell rounding. Conversely, phospho-mimetic mutations promote kindlin degradation in interphase, accelerate mitotic cell rounding and impair mitotic retraction fibre formation. Despite the opposing effects on kindlin stability, both types of mutations cause severe mitotic spindle defects, apoptosis and aneuploidy. Thus, the exquisite regulation of kindlin levels at mitotic entry is essential for cells to progress accurately through mitosis.

Chen et al. report that at mitotic entry, cyclin B1–CDK1 phosphorylates the focal adhesion protein kindlin to induce its proteasomal degradation and promote focal adhesion disassembly and mitotic rounding.

Cell division in tissues enables macrophage infiltration

Cells migrate through crowded microenvironments within tissues during normal development, immune response, and cancer metastasis. Although migration through pores and tracks in the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been well studied, little is known about cellular traversal into confining cell-dense tissues. We find that embryonic tissue invasion by Drosophila macrophages requires division of an epithelial ectodermal cell at the site of entry. Dividing ectodermal cells disassemble ECM attachment formed by integrin-mediated focal adhesions next to mesodermal cells, allowing macrophages to move their nuclei ahead and invade between two immediately adjacent tissues. Invasion efficiency depends on division frequency, but reduction of adhesion strength allows macrophage entry independently of division. This work demonstrates that tissue dynamics can regulate cellular infiltration.

Cell division in tissues enables macrophage infiltration

Cells migrate through crowded microenvironments within tissues during normal development, immune response, and cancer metastasis. Although migration through pores and tracks in the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been well studied, little is known about cellular traversal into confining cell-dense tissues. We find that embryonic tissue invasion by Drosophila macrophages requires division of an epithelial ectodermal cell at the site of entry. Dividing ectodermal cells disassemble ECM attachment formed by integrin-mediated focal adhesions next to mesodermal cells, allowing macrophages to move their nuclei ahead and invade between two immediately adjacent tissues. Invasion efficiency depends on division frequency, but reduction of adhesion strength allows macrophage entry independently of division. This work demonstrates that tissue dynamics can regulate cellular infiltration.

Integrin-Mediated Adhesion Promotes Centrosome Separation in Early Mitosis

Integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix is a key regulator of the cell cycle, as demonstrated for the passage of the G1/S checkpoint and the completion of cytokinetic abscission. Here, integrin-dependent regulation of the cell cycle in G2 and early M phases was investigated. The progression through the G2 and M phases was monitored by live-cell imaging and immunofluorescence staining in adherent and non-adherent fibroblast cells. Non-adherent cells, as well as adherent cells lacking FAK activity due to suppressed expression or pharmacological inhibition, exhibited a prolonged G2 phase and severely defect centrosome separation, resulting in delayed progress through the early mitotic stages. The activation of the critical mitotic regulator PLK1 and its indirect target Eg5, a kinesin-family motor protein driving the centrosome separation, were reduced in the cells lacking FAK activity. Furthermore, the absence of integrin adhesion or FAK activity destabilized the structural integrity of centrosomes and often caused detachment of pericentriolar material from the centrioles. These data identify a novel adhesion-dependent mechanism by which integrins via FAK and PLK1 contribute to the regulation of the cell cycle in the G2 and early M phases, and to the maintenance of genome integrity.

Tether-guided lamellipodia enable rapid wound healing

Adhesion between animal cells and the underlying extracellular matrix is challenged during wounding, cell division, and a variety of pathological processes. How cells recover adhesion in the immediate aftermath of detachment from the extracellular matrix remains incompletely understood, due in part to technical limitations. Here, we used acute chemical and mechanical perturbations to examine how epithelial cells respond to partial delamination events. In both cases, we found that cells extended lamellipodia to establish readhesion within seconds of detachment. These lamellipodia were guided by sparse membrane tethers whose tips remained attached to their original points of adhesion, yielding lamellipodia that appear to be qualitatively distinct from those observed during cell migration. In vivo measurements in the context of a zebrafish wound assay showed a similar behavior, in which membrane tethers guided rapidly extending lamellipodia. In the case of mechanical wounding events, cells selectively extended tether-guided lamellipodia in the direction opposite of the pulling force, resulting in the rapid reestablishment of contact with the substrate. We suggest that membrane tether-guided lamellipodial respreading may represent a general mechanism to reestablish tissue integrity in the face of acute disruption.

Characterization of cell-induced astigmatism in high-resolution imaging

High-resolution and super-resolution techniques become more frequently used in thick, inhomogeneous samples. In particular for imaging life cells and tissue in which one wishes to observe a biological process at minimal interference and in the natural environment, sample inhomogeneities are unavoidable. Yet sample-inhomogeneities are paralleled by refractive index variations, for example between the cell organelles and the surrounding medium, that will result in the refraction of light, and therefore lead to sample-induced astigmatism. Astigmatism in turn will result in positional inaccuracies of observations that are at the heart of all super-resolution techniques. Here we introduce a simple model and define a figure-of-merit that allows one to quickly assess the importance of astigmatism for a given experimental setting. We found that astigmatism caused by the cell's nucleus can easily lead to aberrations up to hundreds of nanometers, well beyond the accuracy of all super-resolution techniques. The astigmatism generated by small objects, like bacteria or vesicles, appear to be small enough to be of any significance in typical super-resolution experimentation.

A lipid primes the final cut in dividing cells

[Figure: see text].

Self-renewal or quiescence? Orchestrating the fate of mesenchymal stem cells by matrix viscoelasticity via PI3K/Akt-CDK1 pathway

To control the fate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a 3D environment by adjusting the mechanical parameters of MSC-loading scaffolds, is one of the hot topics in the field of regenerative biomaterials. However, a thorough understanding of the relevant MSCs behaviors affected by viscoelasticity, a dynamic physical parameter of scaffolds, is still lacking. Herein, we established an alginate hydrogel system with constant stiffness and tunable stress relaxation rate, which is a key parameter for the viscoelastic property of material. MSCs were cultured inside three groups of alginate hydrogels with various stress relaxation rates, and then RNA-seq analysis of cells was performed. Results showed that the change of stress relaxation rates of hydrogels regulated the most of the different expression genes of MSCs, which were enriched in cell proliferation-related pathways. MSCs cultured in hydrogels with fast stress relaxation rate presented a high self-renewal proliferation profile via activating phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. In contrast, a slow stress relaxation rate of hydrogels induced MSCs to enter a reversible quiescence state due to the weakened PI3K/Akt activation. Combined with a further finite element analysis, we speculated that the quiescence of MSCs could be served as a positive strategy for MSCs to deal with the matrix with a low deformation to keep stemness. Based on the results, we identified that stress relaxation rate of hydrogel was a potential physical factor of hydrogel to regulate the self-renewal or quiescence of MSCs. Thus, our findings provide a significant guiding principle for the design of MSCs-encapsulated biomaterials.

Mitosis, a springboard for epithelial-mesenchymal transition?

Mitosis is a key process in development and remains critical to ensure homeostasis in adult tissues. Besides its primary role in generating two new cells, cell division involves deep structural and molecular changes that might have additional effects on cell and tissue fate and shape. Specific quantitative and qualitative regulation of mitosis has been observed in multiple morphogenetic events in different embryo models. For instance, during mouse embryo gastrulation, the portion of epithelium that undergoes epithelial to mesenchymal transition, where a static epithelial cell become mesenchymal and motile, has a higher mitotic index and a distinct localization of mitotic rounding, compared to the rest of the tissue. Here we explore the potential mechanisms through which mitosis may favor tissue reorganization in various models. Notably, we discuss the mechanical impact of cell rounding on the cell and its environment, and the modification of tissue physical parameters through changes in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion.

Aurora B-dependent polarization of the cortical actomyosin network during mitotic exit

The isotropic metaphase actin cortex progressively polarizes as the anaphase spindle elongates during mitotic exit. This involves the loss of actomyosin cortex from opposing cell poles and the accumulation of an actomyosin belt at the cell centre. Although these spatially distinct cortical remodelling events are coordinated in time, here we show that they are independent of each other. Thus, actomyosin is lost from opposing poles in anaphase cells that lack an actomyosin ring owing to centralspindlin depletion. In examining potential regulators of this process, we identify a role for Aurora B kinase in actin clearance at cell poles. Upon combining Aurora B inhibition with centralspindlin depletion, cells exiting mitosis fail to change shape and remain completely spherical. Additionally, we demonstrate a requirement for Aurora B in the clearance of cortical actin close to anaphase chromatin in cells exiting mitosis with a bipolar spindle and in monopolar cells forced to divide while flat. Altogether, these data suggest a novel role for Aurora B activity in facilitating DNA-mediated polar relaxation at anaphase, polarization of the actomyosin cortex, and cell division.

Endocytosis in the context-dependent regulation of individual and collective cell properties

Endocytosis allows cells to transport particles and molecules across the plasma membrane. In addition, it is involved in the termination of signalling through receptor downmodulation and degradation. This traditional outlook has been substantially modified in recent years by discoveries that endocytosis and subsequent trafficking routes have a profound impact on the positive regulation and propagation of signals, being key for the spatiotemporal regulation of signal transmission in cells. Accordingly, endocytosis and membrane trafficking regulate virtually every aspect of cell physiology and are frequently subverted in pathological conditions. Two key aspects of endocytic control over signalling are coming into focus: context-dependency and long-range effects. First, endocytic-regulated outputs are not stereotyped but heavily dependent on the cell-specific regulation of endocytic networks. Second, endocytic regulation has an impact not only on individual cells but also on the behaviour of cellular collectives. Herein, we will discuss recent advancements in these areas, highlighting how endocytic trafficking impacts complex cell properties, including cell polarity and collective cell migration, and the relevance of these mechanisms to disease, in particular cancer.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Resist Mechanical Confinement through the Activation of the Cortex during Cell Division

The mechanical properties of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) change extensively, but these specific properties provide a relatively stable environment for resident cells. Although the effect of matrix stiffness on cell functions has been widely studied, the molecular mechanism was still not fully understood. Matrix stiffening is a common phenomenon in tissue damaging processes. To explore the effect of the increase in local matrix stiffness on cell behaviors, a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system with a tunable modulus but constant other physical parameters was constructed by the alginate hydrogel with different molecular weights and cross-linking degrees. By using this culture system, the transcriptome response of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to matrix stiffness was explored. Furthermore, a finite element model was developed to simulate the interaction between cells and the matrix. Results revealed that the increased matrix stiffness promoted the proliferation-related signaling of MSCs, and this process depended on the increased cortex tension caused by the activation of RAS and myosin II.

Nonmuscle Myosin II Regulation Directs Its Multiple Roles in Cell Migration and Division

Nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) is a multimeric protein complex that generates most mechanical force in eukaryotic cells. NMII function is controlled at three main levels. The first level includes events that trigger conformational changes that extend the complex to enable its assembly into filaments. The second level controls the ATPase activity of the complex and its binding to microfilaments in extended NMII filaments. The third level includes events that modulate the stability and contractility of the filaments. They all work in concert to finely control force generation inside cells. NMII is a common endpoint of mechanochemical signaling pathways that control cellular responses to physical and chemical extracellular cues. Specific phosphorylations modulate NMII activation in a context-dependent manner. A few kinases control these phosphorylations in a spatially, temporally, and lineage-restricted fashion, enabling functional adaptability to the cellular microenvironment. Here, we review mechanisms that control NMII activity in the context of cell migration and division. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, Volume 37 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Bisepoxide-Jeffamine microgel synthesis and application toward heterogeneous surface morphology for differential neuronal/non-neuronal cell responses in vitro

Herein, a new non-vinylic type of cationic microgels (MG) was readily prepared from ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and Jeffamine T-403 in water. The MG was responsive to both temperature and pH, and oxidatively stable as demonstrated by the hydrogen peroxide study. Using glass as a model substrate, its surface was easily imparted with a heterogeneous morphology by simply adsorbing MG dispersed in basic solution. Specifically, the morphology features patches made of a monolayer of connected yet individually recognizable MG. Through in vitro cell studies, we show that a mere change of the extent of surface coverage by such a patchy morphology can strike a balance in promoting adhesion and differentiation of neuron-like PC-12 cells and primary cortical neurons of chick embryo, without soliciting proliferative response from non-neuronal cells of NIH3T3 fibroblast and CTX astrocyte. This simple yet unconventional surface morphology created by MG could be leveraged in the future as an alternative strategy for neural interface engineering.

Human tRNAs with inosine 34 are essential to efficiently translate eukarya-specific low-complexity proteins

The modification of adenosine to inosine at the wobble position (I34) of tRNA anticodons is an abundant and essential feature of eukaryotic tRNAs. The expansion of inosine-containing tRNAs in eukaryotes followed the transformation of the homodimeric bacterial enzyme TadA, which generates I34 in tRNAArg and tRNALeu, into the heterodimeric eukaryotic enzyme ADAT, which modifies up to eight different tRNAs. The emergence of ADAT and its larger set of substrates, strongly influenced the tRNA composition and codon usage of eukaryotic genomes. However, the selective advantages that drove the expansion of I34-tRNAs remain unknown. Here we investigate the functional relevance of I34-tRNAs in human cells and show that a full complement of these tRNAs is necessary for the translation of low-complexity protein domains enriched in amino acids cognate for I34-tRNAs. The coding sequences for these domains require codons translated by I34-tRNAs, in detriment of synonymous codons that use other tRNAs. I34-tRNA-dependent low-complexity proteins are enriched in functional categories related to cell adhesion, and depletion in I34-tRNAs leads to cellular phenotypes consistent with these roles. We show that the distribution of these low-complexity proteins mirrors the distribution of I34-tRNAs in the phylogenetic tree.

The nature of cell division forces in epithelial monolayers

Epithelial cells undergo striking morphological changes during division to ensure proper segregation of genetic and cytoplasmic materials. These morphological changes occur despite dividing cells being mechanically restricted by neighboring cells, indicating the need for extracellular force generation. Beyond driving cell division itself, forces associated with division have been implicated in tissue-scale processes, including development, tissue growth, migration, and epidermal stratification. While forces generated by mitotic rounding are well understood, forces generated after rounding remain unknown. Here, we identify two distinct stages of division force generation that follow rounding: (1) Protrusive forces along the division axis that drive division elongation, and (2) outward forces that facilitate postdivision spreading. Cytokinetic ring contraction of the dividing cell, but not activity of neighboring cells, generates extracellular forces that propel division elongation and contribute to chromosome segregation. Forces from division elongation are observed in epithelia across many model organisms. Thus, division elongation forces represent a universal mechanism that powers cell division in confining epithelia.

From the cytoskeleton to the nucleus: An integrated view on early spindle assembly

Accurate chromosome segregation requires a complete restructuring of cellular organization. Microtubules remodel to assemble a mitotic spindle and the actin cytoskeleton rearranges to form a stiff actomyosin cortex. These cytoplasmic events must be spatially and temporally coordinated with mitotic chromosome condensation and nuclear envelope permeabilization, in order to ensure mitotic timing and fidelity. Here, we discuss the main cytoskeletal and nuclear events that occur during mitotic entry in proliferating animal cells, focusing on their coordinated contribution for early mitotic spindle assembly. We will also explore recent progress in understanding their regulatory biochemical and mechanical pathways.

Epithelial cell transforming 2 is regulated by Yes-associated protein 1 and mediates pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly metastatic and represents one of the deadliest forms of human cancers. Previous studies showed that activation of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) plays a key role in malignant transformation in the pancreas. In this study, we found that YAP1 regulates the expression of epithelial cell transforming 2 (ECT2), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho-like GTPases. By immunohistochemistry analysis of human tissues, we show that ECT2 is highly expressed in primary PDAC and liver metastasis but not in normal pancreas. These correlations were also observed in a mouse model of PDAC, where pancreatic transformation is driven by mutants of Kras and Trp53. Notably, nuclear ECT2 is upregulated in the transition from preneoplastic lesions to PDAC. High levels of YAP1 or ECT2 expression correlates with the poor overall survival rate of patients with PDAC. We further demonstrate that ECT2 is required for pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Finally, using a syngeneic orthotopic xenograft mouse model for pancreatic cancer, we found that ablation of ECT2 expression reduces pancreatic cancer growth and dissemination to the liver. These findings highlight the critical role of ECT2 in promoting pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis and provides insights into the development of novel methods for early detection and treatment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest forms of human cancers. In this study, we identified a novel signaling mechanism involved in PDAC progression and metastasis. Yes-associated protein 1 mediates the expression of epithelial cell transforming 2, which is elevated in PDAC and correlates with poor survival. Epithelial cell transforming 2 is required for PDAC growth and metastasis. This study provides insights into the development of novel methods for early detection and treatment of PDAC.

A Correlation Between Electric Fields That Target the Cell Membrane Potential and Dividing HeLa Cancer Cell Growth Inhibition

OBJECTIVE

Clinical studies show that low intensity (single V/cm), intermediate-frequency (100 kHz-300 kHz) electric fields inhibit the growth of cancer cells, while the mechanism is not yet understood. We examine the hypothesis that electric fields modify the cell membrane potential of dividing cancer cells in a way that correlates with cells growth inhibition.

METHODS

A Schwan based mathematical model calculates the changes in HeLa cells membrane potential due to single V/cm electric fields and frequencies from 0.1 to 1 MHz. An experimental study examines the effect of these electric fields on the inhibition of HeLa cells growth in an incubator.

RESULTS

The theoretical calculation shows that the effects of these electric fields on cell membrane potential decrease with an increase in frequency. The HeLa cells experiments verified the inhibitory effect of these fields on cell growth. The inhibitory effect is decreasing with an increase in frequency, in a way that is similar to the frequency dependent effect of these fields on the cell membrane potential.

CONCLUSIONS

The superposition of the theoretical results and the experimental results suggest a correlation between the effect of these fields on the cell membrane potential and inhibition of cancer cell growth. It should be emphasized that correlations do not prove causality, however, they suggest an area for future research.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings have value for the understanding of the mechanisms of cancer cells growth inhibition with electric fields and suggest an interesting area of research on the interaction between electromagnetic fields and cancer cells.

Detection of large extracellular silver nanoparticle rings observed during mitosis using darkfield microscopy

During studies on the absorption and interactions between silver nanoparticles and mammalian cells grown in vitro it was observed that large extracellular rings of silver nanoparticles were deposited on the microscope slide, many located near post-mitotic cells. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP, 80nm), coated with citrate, were incubated at concentrations of 0.3 to 30 μg/ml with a human-derived culture of retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) and observed using darkfield and fluorescent microscopy, 24 h after treatment. Approximately cell-sized extracellular rings of deposited AgNP were observed on the slides among a field of dispersed individual AgNP. The mean diameter of 45 nanoparticles circles was 62.5 +/-12 microns. Ring structures were frequently observed near what appeared to be post-mitotic daughter cells, giving rise to the possibility that cell membrane fragments were deposited on the slide during mitosis, and those fragments selectively attracted and retained silver nanoparticles from suspension in the cell culture medium. These circular structures were observable for the following technical reasons: 1) darkfield microscope could observe single nanoparticles below 100 nm in size, 2) a large concentration (108 and 109) of nanoparticles was used in these experiments 3) negatively charged nanoparticles were attracted to adhesion membrane proteins remaining on the slide from mitosis. The observation of silver nanoparticles attracted to apparent remnants of cellular mitosis could be a useful tool for the study of normal and abnormal mitosis.