scholarly journals A novel cytoskeletal structure involved in purse string wound closure and cell polarity maintenance.

1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
W M Bement ◽  
P Forscher ◽  
M S Mooseker
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Wound Repair ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Purse String ◽  
Cytoskeletal Structure ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
In Cells

The process of wound repair in monolayers of the intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2BBe, was analyzed by a combination of time-lapse differential interference contrast (DIC) video and immunofluorescence microscopy, and laser scanning confocal immunofluorescence microscopy (LSCIM). DIC video analysis revealed that stab wounds made in Caco-2BBe monolayers healed by two distinct processes: (a) Extension of lamellipodia into the wounds; and (b) Purse string closure of the wound by distinct arcs or rings formed by cells bordering the wound. The arcs and rings which effected purse string closure appeared sharp and sheer in DIC, spanned between two and eight individual cells along the wound border, and contracted in a concerted fashion. Immunofluorescence analysis of the wounds demonstrated that the arcs and rings contained striking accumulations of actin filaments, myosin-II, villin, and tropomyosin. In contrast, arcs and rings contained no apparent enrichment of microtubules, brush border myosin-I immunogens, or myosin-V. LSCIM analysis confirmed the localization of actin filaments, myosin-II, villin, and tropomyosin in arcs and rings at wound borders. ZO-1 (a tight junction protein), also accumulated in arcs and rings around wounds, despite the fact that cell-cell contacts are absent at wound borders. Sucrase-isomaltase, an apically-localized integral membrane protein, maintained an apical localization in cells where arcs or rings were formed, but was found in lamellipodia extending into wounds in cells where arcs failed to form. Time-course, LSCIM quantification of actin, myosin II, and ZO-1 revealed that accumulation of these proteins within arcs and rings at the wound edge began within 5 minutes and peaked within 30-60 minutes of wounding. Actin filaments, myosin-II, and ZO-1 achieved 10-, 3-, and 4-fold enrichments, respectively, relative to cell edges which did not border wounds. The results demonstrate that wounded Caco-2BBe monolayers assemble a novel cytoskeletal structure at the borders of wounds. The results further suggest that this structure plays at least two roles in wound repair; first, mediation of concerted, purse string movement of cells into the area of the wound and second, maintenance of apical/basolateral polarity in cells which border the wound.

scholarly journals Gonococcal invasion into epithelial cells depends on both cell polarity and ezrin

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. e1009592
Author(s):  
Qian Yu ◽  
Liang-Chun Wang ◽  
Sofia Di Benigno ◽  
Daniel C. Stein ◽  
Wenxia Song
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Cervical Tissue ◽  
Polarized Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cervical Epithelial Cells ◽  
Muscle Myosin

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) establishes infection in women from the cervix, lined with heterogeneous epithelial cells from non-polarized stratified at the ectocervix to polarized columnar at the endocervix. We have previously shown that GC differentially colonize and transmigrate across the ecto and endocervical epithelia. However, whether and how GC invade into heterogeneous cervical epithelial cells is unknown. This study examined GC entry of epithelial cells with various properties, using human cervical tissue explant and non-polarized/polarized epithelial cell line models. While adhering to non-polarized and polarized epithelial cells at similar levels, GC invaded into non-polarized more efficiently than polarized epithelial cells. The enhanced GC invasion in non-polarized epithelial cells was associated with increased ezrin phosphorylation, F-actin and ezrin recruitment to GC adherent sites, and the elongation of GC-associated microvilli. Inhibition of ezrin phosphorylation inhibited F-actin and ezrin recruitment and microvilli elongation, leading to a reduction in GC invasion. The reduced GC invasion in polarized epithelial cells was associated with non-muscle myosin II-mediated F-actin disassembly and microvilli denudation at GC adherence sites. Surprisingly, intraepithelial GC were only detected inside epithelial cells shedding from the cervix by immunofluorescence microscopy, but not significantly in the ectocervical and the endocervical regions. We observed similar ezrin and F-actin recruitment in exfoliated cervical epithelial cells but not in those that remained in the ectocervical epithelium, as the luminal layer of ectocervical epithelial cells expressed ten-fold lower levels of ezrin than those beneath. However, GC inoculation induced F-actin reduction and myosin recruitment in the endocervix, similar to what was seen in polarized epithelial cells. Collectively, our results suggest that while GC invade non-polarized epithelial cells through ezrin-driven microvilli elongation, the apical polarization of ezrin and F-actin inhibits GC entry into polarized epithelial cells.

Putative myosin heavy and light chains in Tetrahymena: co-localization to the basal body-cage complex and association of the heavy chain with skeletal muscle actin filaments in vitro

1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 869-881
Author(s):  
J.A. Garces ◽  
J.G. Hoey ◽  
R.H. Gavin
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Basal Body ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Protein Fraction ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Light Chains ◽  
Muscle Actin ◽  
Cage Complex

The basal body cage is a fibrillar chamber which surrounds each basal body in the ciliate cytoskeleton. The function of this chamber is unknown. In Tetrahymena, the cage contains actin filaments which connect the cage to triplet microtubules. In this study, we have examined the cage for the presence of myosin. Skeletal muscle myosin-II heavy and light chains were used to affinity-purify anti-MHC and anti-MLC antibodies, respectively, from an antiserum raised against Tetrahymena oral apparatus proteins. On western immunoblots of ATP-solubilized Tetrahymena proteins, the anti-MHC antibody detected a putative myosin heavy (180 kDa) chain, and the anti-MLC antibody detected a putative myosin light (18 kDa) chain. The anti-MHC antibody specifically labeled the AI zone of sarcomeres. In cosedimentation assays with an ATP-solubilized protein fraction, the 180 kDa polypeptide associated with skeletal muscle actin filaments in an ATP-dependent manner. The sedimented actin filaments appeared to be organized into bundles. Immunodepletion of the 180 kDa rendered the ATP-solubilized protein fraction ineffective in bundling actin filaments in a cosedimentation assay. ATP-solubilized Tetrahymena proteins, which included the 180 kDa polypeptide, exhibited F-actin-stimulated, Mg2+ ATPase activity and K+, EDTA ATPase activity which are characteristic of myosin ATPases. Immunodepletion of the 180 kDa polypeptide reduced the F-actin, Mg2+ ATPase activity of the ATP-solubilized protein fraction by more than 80%. Based on these various observations, we conclude that the 180 kDa polypeptide is a putative myosin heavy chain, probably a myosin-II and that the 18 kDa polypeptide is probably a myosin-II light chain. We have used the affinity-purified, anti-myosin antibodies with immunofluorescence microscopy and immunogold electron microscopy to map the location of the putative myosin heavy and light chains in Tetrahymena. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the anti-myosin antibodies localized to Tetrahymena somatic and oral region basal bodies. At the ultrastructural level, the anti-myosin antibodies localized to filaments in the basal body-cage complex. The labeling patterns with both anti-myosin antibodies were identical to the labeling pattern observed with an anti-actin antibody reported in a previous study. The co-localization of myosin and actin argue for a motility system within the basal body-cage complex.

scholarly journals The tension mounts: Stress fibers as force-generating mechanotransducers

2013 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Burridge ◽  
Erika S. Wittchen
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Striated Muscle ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
New Work ◽  
Mechanical Tension ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
In Cells

Stress fibers (SFs) are often the most prominent cytoskeletal structures in cells growing in tissue culture. Composed of actin filaments, myosin II, and many other proteins, SFs are force-generating and tension-bearing structures that respond to the surrounding physical environment. New work is shedding light on the mechanosensitive properties of SFs, including that these structures can respond to mechanical tension by rapid reinforcement and that there are mechanisms to repair strain-induced damage. Although SFs are superficially similar in organization to the sarcomeres of striated muscle, there are intriguing differences in their organization and behavior, indicating that much still needs to be learned about these structures.

scholarly journals Gonococcal invasion into epithelial cells depends on both cell polarity and ezrin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Yu ◽  
Liang-Chun Wang ◽  
Daniel C. Stein ◽  
Wenxia Song
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Cervical Tissue ◽  
Symptomatic Infection ◽  
Polarized Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cervical Epithelial Cells ◽  
Muscle Myosin

AbstractNeisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) establishes symptomatic infection in women from the cervix, lined with heterogeneous epithelial cells from non-polarized stratified at the ectocervix to polarized columnar at the endocervix. We have previously shown that GC differentially colonize and transmigrate across the ecto and endocervical epithelia. However, whether and how GC invade into heterogeneous cervical epithelial cells is unknown. This study examined GC entry of epithelial cells with various properties, using human cervical tissue explant and non-polarized/polarized epithelial cell line models. While adhering to non-polarized and polarized epithelial cells at similar levels, GC invaded into non-polarized more efficiently than polarized epithelial cells. The enhanced GC invasion in non-polarized epithelial cells was associated with increased ezrin phosphorylation, F-actin and ezrin recruitment to GC adherent sites, and the elongation of GC-associated microvilli. Inhibition of ezrin phosphorylation inhibited F-actin and ezrin recruitment and microvilli elongation, leading to a reduction in GC invasion. The reduced GC invasion in polarized epithelial cells was associated with non-muscle myosin II-mediated F-actin disassembly and microvilli ablation at GC adherence sites. Surprisingly, intraepithelial GC were only detected inside epithelial cells shed from the cervix, but neither in the ectocervix nor the endocervix, by immunofluorescence microscopy. We observed similar ezrin and F-actin recruitment in exfoliated cervical epithelial cells but not in those that remained in the ectocervical epithelium, as the luminal layer of ectocervical epithelial cells expressed ten-fold lower levels of ezrin than those beneath. However, GC inoculation induced F-actin reduction and myosin recruitment in the endocervix, similar to what was seen in polarized epithelial cells. Thus, polarized expression of ezrin at the apical surface of epithelial cells inhibits GC invasion, while non-polarized expression of ezrin promotes GC invasion by driving actin accumulation and microvilli elongation.

scholarly journals The distribution of myosin II in Dictyostelium discoideum slug cells.

1991 ◽  
Vol 115 (5) ◽  
pp. 1267-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Eliott ◽  
P H Vardy ◽  
K L Williams
Keyword(s):  
Cell Motility ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Multicellular Development ◽  
Insight Into

While the role of myosin II in muscle contraction has been well characterized, less is known about the role of myosin II in non-muscle cells. Recent molecular genetic experiments on Dictyostelium discoideum show that myosin II is necessary for cytokinesis and multicellular development. Here we use immunofluorescence microscopy with monoclonal and polyclonal antimyosin antibodies to visualize myosin II in cells of the multicellular D. discoideum slug. A subpopulation of peripheral and anterior cells label brightly with antimyosin II antibodies, and many of these cells display a polarized intracellular distribution of myosin II. Other cells in the slug label less brightly and their cytoplasm displays a more homogeneous distribution of myosin II. These results provide insight into cell motility within a three-dimensional tissue and they are discussed in relation to the possible roles of myosin II in multicellular development.

scholarly journals Specification of Actin Filament Function and Molecular Composition by Tropomyosin Isoforms

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1002-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole S. Bryce ◽  
Galina Schevzov ◽  
Vicki Ferguson ◽  
Justin M. Percival ◽  
Jim J.-C. Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
Actin Filament ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Molecular Composition ◽  
Cellular Migration ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
Human Homologue ◽  
Tropomyosin Isoforms

The specific functions of greater than 40 vertebrate nonmuscle tropomyosins (Tms) are poorly understood. In this article we have tested the ability of two Tm isoforms, TmBr3 and the human homologue of Tm5 (hTM5NM1), to regulate actin filament function. We found that these Tms can differentially alter actin filament organization, cell size, and shape. hTm5NM1was able to recruit myosin II into stress fibers, which resulted in decreased lamellipodia and cellular migration. In contrast, TmBr3 transfection induced lamellipodial formation, increased cellular migration, and reduced stress fibers. Based on coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization studies, TmBr3 appeared to be associated with actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilin (ADF)-bound actin filaments. Additionally, the Tms can specifically regulate the incorporation of other Tms into actin filaments, suggesting that selective dimerization may also be involved in the control of actin filament organization. We conclude that Tm isoforms can be used to specify the functional properties and molecular composition of actin filaments and that spatial segregation of isoforms may lead to localized specialization of actin filament function.

scholarly journals Myosin Motors and Not Actin Comets Are Mediators of the Actin-based Golgi-to-Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein Transport

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan M. Durán ◽  
Ferran Valderrama ◽  
Susana Castel ◽  
Juana Magdalena ◽  
Mónica Tomás ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Golgi Complex ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Protein Transport ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Nonmuscle Myosin ◽  
Nonmuscle Myosin Ii ◽  
Myosin Motors

We have previously reported that actin filaments are involved in protein transport from the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum. Herein, we examined whether myosin motors or actin comets mediate this transport. To address this issue we have used, on one hand, a combination of specific inhibitors such as 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) and 1-[5-isoquinoline sulfonyl]-2-methyl piperazine (ML7), which inhibit myosin and the phosphorylation of myosin II by the myosin light chain kinase, respectively; and a mutant of the nonmuscle myosin II regulatory light chain, which cannot be phosphorylated (MRLC2AA). On the other hand, actin comet tails were induced by the overexpression of phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase. Cells treated with BDM/ML7 or those that express the MRLC2AA mutant revealed a significant reduction in the brefeldin A (BFA)-induced fusion of Golgi enzymes with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This delay was not caused by an alteration in the formation of the BFA-induced tubules from the Golgi complex. In addition, the Shiga toxin fragment B transport from the Golgi complex to the ER was also altered. This impairment in the retrograde protein transport was not due to depletion of intracellular calcium stores or to the activation of Rho kinase. Neither the reassembly of the Golgi complex after BFA removal nor VSV-G transport from ER to the Golgi was altered in cells treated with BDM/ML7 or expressing MRLC2AA. Finally, transport carriers containing Shiga toxin did not move into the cytosol at the tips of comet tails of polymerizing actin. Collectively, the results indicate that 1) myosin motors move to transport carriers from the Golgi complex to the ER along actin filaments; 2) nonmuscle myosin II mediates in this process; and 3) actin comets are not involved in retrograde transport.

Coumarin-phalloidin: a new actin probe permitting triple immunofluorescence microscopy of the cytoskeleton

1988 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-24
Author(s):  
J.V. Small ◽  
S. Zobeley ◽  
G. Rinnerthaler ◽  
H. Faulstich
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Blue Region

7-Diethylamino-3-(4-isothiocyanotophenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPITC) was coupled to amino-methyldithiolanophalloidin to produce a new phalloidin derivative, coumarin-phalloidin, fluorescent in the blue region of the spectrum. Coumarin-phalloidin binds to actin with around 100-fold less affinity than unconjugated phalloidin, but with enough avidity to make it a useful stain for actin filaments. Appropriate filter combinations permit triple immunofluorescence microscopy of the cytoskeleton with fluorescein and rhodamine conjugates together with coumarin-phalloidin.

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