1
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Gélin M, Schaeffer A, Gaillard J, Guérin C, Vianay B, Orhant-Prioux M, Braun M, Leterrier C, Blanchoin L, Théry M. Microtubules under mechanical pressure can breach dense actin networks. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261667. [PMID: 37870087 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The crosstalk between the actin network and microtubules is essential for cell polarity. It orchestrates microtubule organization within the cell, driven by the asymmetry of actin architecture along the cell periphery. The physical intertwining of these networks regulates spatial organization and force distribution in the microtubule network. Although their biochemical interactions are becoming clearer, the mechanical aspects remain less understood. To explore this mechanical interplay, we developed an in vitro reconstitution assay to investigate how dynamic microtubules interact with various actin filament structures. Our findings revealed that microtubules can align and move along linear actin filament bundles through polymerization force. However, they are unable to pass through when encountering dense branched actin meshworks, similar to those present in the lamellipodium along the periphery of the cell. Interestingly, immobilizing microtubules through crosslinking with actin or other means allow the buildup of pressure, enabling them to breach these dense actin barriers. This mechanism offers insights into microtubule progression towards the cell periphery, with them overcoming obstacles within the denser parts of the actin network and ultimately contributing to cell polarity establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Gélin
- Université Paris cité, CEA, INSERM, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, UMR976 HIPI, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Schaeffer
- Université Paris cité, CEA, INSERM, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, UMR976 HIPI, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Jérémie Gaillard
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, UMR5168-LPCV, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Christophe Guérin
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, UMR5168-LPCV, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Benoit Vianay
- Université Paris cité, CEA, INSERM, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, UMR976 HIPI, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Magali Orhant-Prioux
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, UMR5168-LPCV, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Marcus Braun
- Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 25250 Vestec, Prague West, Czech Republic
| | - Christophe Leterrier
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INP UMR7051, NeuroCyto, 13385, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Blanchoin
- Université Paris cité, CEA, INSERM, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, UMR976 HIPI, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, UMR5168-LPCV, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Manuel Théry
- Université Paris cité, CEA, INSERM, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, UMR976 HIPI, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, UMR5168-LPCV, CytoMorpho Lab, Avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble, France
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2
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Quiogue AR, Sumiyoshi E, Fries A, Chuang CH, Bowerman B. Microtubules oppose cortical actomyosin-driven membrane ingression during C. elegans meiosis I polar body extrusion. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010984. [PMID: 37782660 PMCID: PMC10569601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During C. elegans oocyte meiosis I cytokinesis and polar body extrusion, cortical actomyosin is locally remodeled to assemble a contractile ring that forms within and remains part of a much larger and actively contractile cortical actomyosin network. This network both mediates contractile ring dynamics and generates shallow ingressions throughout the oocyte cortex during polar body extrusion. Based on our analysis of requirements for CLS-2, a member of the CLASP family of proteins that stabilize microtubules, we recently proposed that a balance of actomyosin-mediated tension and microtubule-mediated stiffness limits membrane ingression throughout the oocyte during meiosis I polar body extrusion. Here, using live cell imaging and fluorescent protein fusions, we show that CLS-2 is part of a group of kinetochore proteins, including the scaffold KNL-1 and the kinase BUB-1, that also co-localize during meiosis I to structures called linear elements, which are present within the assembling oocyte spindle and also are distributed throughout the oocyte in proximity to, but appearing to underlie, the actomyosin cortex. We further show that KNL-1 and BUB-1, like CLS-2, promote the proper organization of sub-cortical microtubules and also limit membrane ingression throughout the oocyte. Moreover, nocodazole or taxol treatment to destabilize or stabilize oocyte microtubules leads to, respectively, excess or decreased membrane ingression throughout the oocyte. Furthermore, taxol treatment, and genetic backgrounds that elevate the levels of cortically associated microtubules, both suppress excess membrane ingression in cls-2 mutant oocytes. We propose that linear elements influence the organization of sub-cortical microtubules to generate a stiffness that limits cortical actomyosin-driven membrane ingression throughout the oocyte during meiosis I polar body extrusion. We discuss the possibility that this regulation of sub-cortical microtubule dynamics facilitates actomyosin contractile ring dynamics during C. elegans oocyte meiosis I cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa R. Quiogue
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugen, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Eisuke Sumiyoshi
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugen, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Adam Fries
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugen, Oregon, United States of America
- Imaging Core, Office of the Vice President for Research University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Chien-Hui Chuang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugen, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Bruce Bowerman
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugen, Oregon, United States of America
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3
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Li M, Peng D, Cao H, Yang X, Li S, Qiu HJ, Li LF. The Host Cytoskeleton Functions as a Pleiotropic Scaffold: Orchestrating Regulation of the Viral Life Cycle and Mediating Host Antiviral Innate Immune Responses. Viruses 2023; 15:1354. [PMID: 37376653 DOI: 10.3390/v15061354] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that critically depend on their hosts to initiate infection, complete replication cycles, and generate new progeny virions. To achieve these goals, viruses have evolved numerous elegant strategies to subvert and utilize different cellular machinery. The cytoskeleton is often one of the first components to be hijacked as it provides a convenient transport system for viruses to enter the cell and reach the site of replication. The cytoskeleton is an intricate network involved in controlling the cell shape, cargo transport, signal transduction, and cell division. The host cytoskeleton has complex interactions with viruses during the viral life cycle, as well as cell-to-cell transmission once the life cycle is completed. Additionally, the host also develops unique, cytoskeleton-mediated antiviral innate immune responses. These processes are also involved in pathological damages, although the comprehensive mechanisms remain elusive. In this review, we briefly summarize the functions of some prominent viruses in inducing or hijacking cytoskeletal structures and the related antiviral responses in order to provide new insights into the crosstalk between the cytoskeleton and viruses, which may contribute to the design of novel antivirals targeting the cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Dingkun Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Hongwei Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Xiaoke Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Su Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Hua-Ji Qiu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Lian-Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
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4
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Quiogue AR, Sumiyoshi E, Fries A, Chuang CH, Bowerman B. Cortical microtubules oppose actomyosin-driven membrane ingression during C. elegans meiosis I polar body extrusion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.26.542508. [PMID: 37292632 PMCID: PMC10245968 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.542508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
During C. elegans oocyte meiosis I, cortical actomyosin is locally remodeled to assemble a contractile ring near the spindle. In contrast to mitosis, when most cortical actomyosin converges into a contractile ring, the small oocyte ring forms within and remains part of a much larger and actively contractile cortical actomyosin network. This network both mediates contractile ring dynamics and generates shallow ingressions throughout the oocyte cortex during polar body extrusion. Based on our analysis of requirements for CLS-2, a member of the CLASP family of proteins that stabilize microtubules, we recently proposed that a balance of actomyosin-mediated tension and microtubule-mediated stiffness are required for contractile ring assembly within the oocyte cortical actomyosin network. Here, using live cell imaging and fluorescent protein fusions, we show that CLS-2 is part of a complex of kinetochore proteins, including the scaffold KNL-1 and the kinase BUB-1, that also co-localize to patches distributed throughout the oocyte cortex during meiosis I. By reducing their function, we further show that KNL-1 and BUB-1, like CLS-2, are required for cortical microtubule stability, to limit membrane ingression throughout the oocyte, and for meiotic contractile ring assembly and polar body extrusion. Moreover, nocodazole or taxol treatment to destabilize or stabilize oocyte microtubules, respectively, leads to excess or decreased membrane ingression throughout the oocyte and defective polar body extrusion. Finally, genetic backgrounds that elevate cortical microtubule levels suppress the excess membrane ingression in cls-2 mutant oocytes. These results support our hypothesis that CLS-2, as part of a sub-complex of kinetochore proteins that also co-localize to patches throughout the oocyte cortex, stabilizes microtubules to stiffen the oocyte cortex and limit membrane ingression throughout the oocyte, thereby facilitating contractile ring dynamics and the successful completion of polar body extrusion during meiosis I.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam Fries
- Institute of Molecular Biology
- Imaging Core, Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR USA 97403
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5
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Peddireddy KR, Clairmont R, Neill P, McGorty R, Robertson-Anderson RM. Optical-Tweezers-integrating-Differential-Dynamic-Microscopy maps the spatiotemporal propagation of nonlinear strains in polymer blends and composites. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5180. [PMID: 36056012 PMCID: PMC9440072 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32876-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
How local stresses propagate through polymeric fluids, and, more generally, how macromolecular dynamics give rise to viscoelasticity are open questions vital to wide-ranging scientific and industrial fields. Here, to unambiguously connect polymer dynamics to force response, and map the deformation fields that arise in macromolecular materials, we present Optical-Tweezers-integrating-Differential -Dynamic-Microscopy (OpTiDMM) that simultaneously imposes local strains, measures resistive forces, and analyzes the motion of the surrounding polymers. Our measurements with blends of ring and linear polymers (DNA) and their composites with stiff polymers (microtubules) uncover an unexpected resonant response, in which strain alignment, superdiffusivity, and elasticity are maximized when the strain rate is comparable to the entanglement rate. Microtubules suppress this resonance, while substantially increasing elastic storage, due to varying degrees to which the polymers buildup, stretch and flow along the strain path, and configurationally relax induced stress. More broadly, the rich multi-scale coupling of mechanics and dynamics afforded by OpTiDDM, empowers its interdisciplinary use to elucidate non-trivial phenomena that sculpt stress propagation dynamics-critical to commercial applications and cell mechanics alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik R Peddireddy
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA
| | - Ryan Clairmont
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA
| | - Philip Neill
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA
| | - Ryan McGorty
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA
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6
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Lorenz C, Köster S. Multiscale architecture: Mechanics of composite cytoskeletal networks. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:031304. [PMID: 38505277 PMCID: PMC10903411 DOI: 10.1063/5.0099405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Different types of biological cells respond differently to mechanical stresses, and these responses are mainly governed by the cytoskeleton. The main components of this biopolymer network are actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, whose mechanical and dynamic properties are highly distinct, thus opening up a large mechanical parameter space. Aside from experiments on whole, living cells, "bottom-up" approaches, utilizing purified, reconstituted protein systems, tremendously help to shed light on the complex mechanics of cytoskeletal networks. Such experiments are relevant in at least three aspects: (i) from a fundamental point of view, cytoskeletal networks provide a perfect model system for polymer physics; (ii) in materials science and "synthetic cell" approaches, one goal is to fully understand properties of cellular materials and reconstitute them in synthetic systems; (iii) many diseases are associated with cell mechanics, so a thorough understanding of the underlying phenomena may help solving pressing biomedical questions. In this review, we discuss the work on networks consisting of one, two, or all three types of filaments, entangled or cross-linked, and consider active elements such as molecular motors and dynamically growing filaments. Interestingly, tuning the interactions among the different filament types results in emergent network properties. We discuss current experimental challenges, such as the comparability of different studies, and recent methodological advances concerning the quantification of attractive forces between filaments and their influence on network mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Lorenz
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - S. Köster
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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7
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Liu X, Nawaz Z, Guo C, Ali S, Naeem MA, Jamil T, Ahmad W, Siddiq MU, Ahmed S, Asif Idrees M, Ahmad A. Rabies Virus Exploits Cytoskeleton Network to Cause Early Disease Progression and Cellular Dysfunction. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:889873. [PMID: 35685339 PMCID: PMC9172992 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.889873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Rabies virus (RABV) is a cunning neurotropic pathogen and causes top priority neglected tropical diseases in the developing world. The genome of RABV consists of nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), glycoprotein (G), and RNA polymerase L protein (L), respectively. The virus causes neuronal dysfunction instead of neuronal cell death by deregulating the polymerization of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and subverts the associated binding and motor proteins for efficient viral progression. These binding proteins mainly maintain neuronal structure, morphology, synaptic integrity, and complex neurophysiological pathways. However, much of the exact mechanism of the viral-cytoskeleton interaction is yet unclear because several binding proteins of the actin-microtubule cytoskeleton are involved in multifaceted pathways to influence the retrograde and anterograde axonal transport of RABV. In this review, all the available scientific results regarding cytoskeleton elements and their possible interactions with RABV have been collected through systematic methodology, and thereby interpreted to explain sneaky features of RABV. The aim is to envisage the pathogenesis of RABV to understand further steps of RABV progression inside the cells. RABV interacts in a number of ways with the cell cytoskeleton to produce degenerative changes in the biochemical and neuropathological trails of neurons and other cell types. Briefly, RABV changes the gene expression of essential cytoskeleton related proteins, depolymerizes actin and microtubules, coordinates the synthesis of inclusion bodies, manipulates microtubules and associated motors proteins, and uses actin for clathrin-mediated entry in different cells. Most importantly, the P is the most intricate protein of RABV that performs complex functions. It artfully operates the dynein motor protein along the tracks of microtubules to assist the replication, transcription, and transport of RABV until its egress from the cell. New remedial insights at subcellular levels are needed to counteract the destabilization of the cytoskeleton under RABV infection to stop its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xilin Liu
- Department of Hand Surgery, Presidents' Office of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zeeshan Nawaz
- Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Caixia Guo
- Department of Hand Surgery, Presidents' Office of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Sultan Ali
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ahsan Naeem
- Department of Basic Sciences, University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan
| | - Tariq Jamil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Waqas Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Usman Siddiq
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sarfraz Ahmed
- Department of Basic Sciences, University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asif Idrees
- Department of Pathobiology, University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan
| | - Ali Ahmad
- Department of Pathobiology, University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan
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8
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Peddireddy KR, Michieletto D, Aguirre G, Garamella J, Khanal P, Robertson-Anderson RM. DNA Conformation Dictates Strength and Flocculation in DNA-Microtubule Composites. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:1540-1548. [PMID: 35549144 PMCID: PMC9239750 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Polymer topology has been shown to play a key role in tuning the dynamics of complex fluids and gels. At the same time, polymer composites, ubiquitous in everyday life, have been shown to exhibit emergent desirable mechanical properties not attainable in single-species systems. Yet, how topology impacts the dynamics and structure of polymer composites remains poorly understood. Here, we create composites of rigid rods (microtubules) polymerized within entangled solutions of flexible linear and ring polymers (DNA) of equal length. We couple optical tweezers microrheology with confocal microscopy and scaled particle theory to show that composites with linear DNA exhibit a strongly nonmonotonic dependence of elasticity and stiffness on microtubule concentration due to depletion-driven polymerization and flocculation of microtubules. In contrast, composites containing ring DNA show a much more modest monotonic increase in elastic strength with microtubule concentration, which we demonstrate arises from the decreased conformational size and increased miscibility of rings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik R Peddireddy
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, California 92110, United States
| | - Davide Michieletto
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
| | - Gina Aguirre
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, California 92110, United States
| | - Jonathan Garamella
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, California 92110, United States
| | - Pawan Khanal
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, California 92110, United States
| | - Rae M Robertson-Anderson
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, California 92110, United States
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9
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Lee G, Leech G, Lwin P, Michel J, Currie C, Rust MJ, Ross JL, McGorty RJ, Das M, Robertson-Anderson RM. Active cytoskeletal composites display emergent tunable contractility and restructuring. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:10765-10776. [PMID: 34792082 PMCID: PMC9239752 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01083b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton is a model active matter system that controls processes as diverse as cell motility and mechanosensing. While both active actomyosin dynamics and actin-microtubule interactions are key to the cytoskeleton's versatility and adaptability, an understanding of their interplay is lacking. Here, we couple microscale experiments with mechanistic modeling to elucidate how connectivity, rigidity, and force-generation affect emergent material properties in composite networks of actin, tubulin, and myosin. We use multi-spectral imaging, time-resolved differential dynamic microscopy and spatial image autocorrelation to show that ballistic contraction occurs in composites with sufficient flexibility and motor density, but that a critical fraction of microtubules is necessary to sustain controlled dynamics. The active double-network models we develop, which recapitulate our experimental findings, reveal that while percolated actomyosin networks are essential for contraction, only composites with comparable actin and microtubule densities can simultaneously resist mechanical stresses while supporting substantial restructuring. The comprehensive phase map we present not only provides important insight into the different routes the cytoskeleton can use to alter its dynamics and structure, but also serves as a much-needed blueprint for designing cytoskeleton-inspired materials that couple tunability with resilience and adaptability for diverse applications ranging from wound healing to soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Lee
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, USA.
| | - Gregor Leech
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, USA.
| | - Pancy Lwin
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Jonathan Michel
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
| | | | - Michael J Rust
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, USA
| | | | - Ryan J McGorty
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, USA.
| | - Moumita Das
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
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10
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Abstract
Actin filaments and microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers that participate in many vital cell functions including division, morphogenesis, phagocytosis, and motility. Despite the persistent dogma that actin filament and microtubule networks are distinct in localization, structure, and function, a growing body of evidence shows that these elements are choreographed through intricate mechanisms sensitive to either polymer. Many proteins and cellular signals that mediate actin–microtubule interactions have already been identified. However, the impact of these regulators is typically assessed with actin filament or microtubule polymers alone, independent of the other system. Further, unconventional modes and regulators coordinating actin–microtubule interactions are still being discovered. Here we examine several methods of actin–microtubule crosstalk with an emphasis on the molecular links between both polymer systems and their higher-order interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan L Pimm
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - Jessica L Henty-Ridilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210.,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210
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11
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Lee G, Leech G, Rust MJ, Das M, McGorty RJ, Ross JL, Robertson-Anderson RM. Myosin-driven actin-microtubule networks exhibit self-organized contractile dynamics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/6/eabe4334. [PMID: 33547082 PMCID: PMC7864579 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of proteins, including actin, microtubules, and their associated motor proteins, that enables essential cellular processes such as motility, division, and growth. While actomyosin networks are extensively studied, how interactions between actin and microtubules, ubiquitous in the cytoskeleton, influence actomyosin activity remains an open question. Here, we create a network of co-entangled actin and microtubules driven by myosin II. We combine dynamic differential microscopy, particle image velocimetry, and particle tracking to show that both actin and microtubules undergo ballistic contraction with unexpectedly indistinguishable characteristics. This contractility is distinct from faster disordered motion and rupturing that active actin networks exhibit. Our results suggest that microtubules enable self-organized myosin-driven contraction by providing flexural rigidity and enhanced connectivity to actin networks. Beyond the immediate relevance to cytoskeletal dynamics, our results shed light on the design of active materials that can be precisely tuned by the network composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Lee
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
| | - Gregor Leech
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
| | - Michael J Rust
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Moumita Das
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
| | - Ryan J McGorty
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
| | - Jennifer L Ross
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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