scholarly journals Robust gap repair in the contractile ring ensures timely completion of cytokinesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 215 (6) ◽  
pp. 789-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Silva ◽  
Daniel S. Osório ◽  
Antonio J. Pereira ◽  
Helder Maiato ◽  
Inês Mendes Pinto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Ring Structure ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Cortical Tension ◽  
Timely Completion ◽  
Open Ring ◽  
New Material ◽  
Robust Process

Cytokinesis in animal cells requires the constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring, whose architecture and mechanism remain poorly understood. We use laser microsurgery to explore the biophysical properties of constricting rings in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Laser cutting causes rings to snap open. However, instead of disintegrating, ring topology recovers and constriction proceeds. In response to severing, a finite gap forms and is repaired by recruitment of new material in an actin polymerization–dependent manner. An open ring is able to constrict, and rings repair from successive cuts. After gap repair, an increase in constriction velocity allows cytokinesis to complete at the same time as controls. Our analysis demonstrates that tension in the ring increases while net cortical tension at the site of ingression decreases throughout constriction and suggests that cytokinesis is accomplished by contractile modules that assemble and contract autonomously, enabling local repair of the actomyosin network. Consequently, cytokinesis is a highly robust process impervious to discontinuities in contractile ring structure.

scholarly journals Robust Gap Repair in the Contractile Ring Ensures Timely Completion of Cytokinesis

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Silva ◽  
D Osório ◽  
AJ Pereira ◽  
H Maiato ◽  
IM Pinto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Cutting ◽  
Ring Structure ◽  
Biophysical Properties ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Local Repair ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Timely Completion ◽  
New Material ◽  
Robust Process

AbstractCytokinesis in animal cells requires the constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring, whose architecture and mechanism remain poorly understood. We use laser microsurgery to explore the biophysical properties of constricting contractile rings in C. elegans embryos. Laser cutting causes rings to snap open, which is a sign of tension release. However, instead of disintegrating, ring topology recovers and constriction proceeds. In response to severing, a finite gap forms that is proportional to ring perimeters before cutting, demonstrating that tension along the ring decreases throughout constriction. Severed rings repair their gaps by recruiting new material and subsequently increase constriction rate and complete cytokinesis with the same timing as uncut rings. Rings repair successive cuts and exhibit substantial constriction when gap repair is prevented. Our analysis suggests that cytokinesis is accomplished by contractile modules that assemble and contract autonomously, enabling local repair of the actomyosin network throughout constriction. Consequently, cytokinesis is a highly robust process impervious to discontinuities in contractile ring structure.

scholarly journals Role of Tropomyosin in Formin-mediated Contractile Ring Assembly in Fission Yeast

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2160-2173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen T. Skau ◽  
Erin M. Neidt ◽  
David R. Kovar
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Actin Filament ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Actin Assembly ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Ring Assembly

Like animal cells, fission yeast divides by assembling actin filaments into a contractile ring. In addition to formin Cdc12p and profilin, the single tropomyosin isoform SpTm is required for contractile ring assembly. Cdc12p nucleates actin filaments and remains processively associated with the elongating barbed end while driving the addition of profilin-actin. SpTm is thought to stabilize mature filaments, but it is not known how SpTm localizes to the contractile ring and whether SpTm plays a direct role in Cdc12p-mediated actin polymerization. Using “bulk” and single actin filament assays, we discovered that Cdc12p can recruit SpTm to actin filaments and that SpTm has diverse effects on Cdc12p-mediated actin assembly. On its own, SpTm inhibits actin filament elongation and depolymerization. However, Cdc12p completely overcomes the combined inhibition of actin nucleation and barbed end elongation by profilin and SpTm. Furthermore, SpTm increases the length of Cdc12p-nucleated actin filaments by enhancing the elongation rate twofold and by allowing them to anneal end to end. In contrast, SpTm ultimately turns off Cdc12p-mediated elongation by “trapping” Cdc12p within annealed filaments or by dissociating Cdc12p from the barbed end. Therefore, SpTm makes multiple contributions to contractile ring assembly during and after actin polymerization.

scholarly journals H3K27 modifiers regulate lifespan in C. elegans in a context-dependent manner

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail R. R. Guillermo ◽  
Karolina Chocian ◽  
Gavriil Gavriilidis ◽  
Julien Vandamme ◽  
Anna Elisabetta Salcini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lifespan Extension ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Aberrant Gene Expression ◽  
Lysine Methyltransferase ◽  
Epigenetic Signatures ◽  
Aberrant Gene

Abstract Background Evidence of global heterochromatin decay and aberrant gene expression in models of physiological and premature ageing have long supported the “heterochromatin loss theory of ageing”, which proposes that ageing is aetiologically linked to, and accompanied by, a progressive, generalised loss of repressive epigenetic signatures. However, the remarkable plasticity of chromatin conformation suggests that the re-establishment of such marks could potentially revert the transcriptomic architecture of animal cells to a “younger” state, promoting longevity and healthspan. To expand our understanding of the ageing process and its connection to chromatin biology, we screened an RNAi library of chromatin-associated factors for increased longevity phenotypes. Results We identified the lysine demethylases jmjd-3.2 and utx-1, as well as the lysine methyltransferase mes-2 as regulators of both lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans. Strikingly, we found that both overexpression and loss of function of jmjd-3.2 and utx-1 are all associated with enhanced longevity. Furthermore, we showed that the catalytic activity of UTX-1, but not JMJD-3.2, is critical for lifespan extension in the context of overexpression. In attempting to reconcile the improved longevity associated with both loss and gain of function of utx-1, we investigated the alternative lifespan pathways and tissue specificity of longevity outcomes. We demonstrated that lifespan extension caused by loss of utx-1 function is daf-16 dependent, while overexpression effects are partially independent of daf-16. In addition, lifespan extension was observed when utx-1 was knocked down or overexpressed in neurons and intestine, whereas in the epidermis, only knockdown of utx-1 conferred improved longevity. Conclusions We show that the regulation of longevity by chromatin modifiers can be the result of the interaction between distinct factors, such as the level and tissue of expression. Overall, we suggest that the heterochromatin loss model of ageing may be too simplistic an explanation of organismal ageing when molecular and tissue-specific effects are taken into account.

scholarly journals A Fish Galectin-8 Possesses Direct Bactericidal Activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 376
Author(s):  
Tengfei Zhang ◽  
Shuai Jiang ◽  
Li Sun
Keyword(s):  
Bactericidal Activity ◽  
Bacterial Pathogens ◽  
Bactericidal Effect ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Carbohydrate Binding ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Tongue Sole ◽  
Wide Range

Galectins are a family of animal lectins with high affinity for β-galactosides. Galectins are able to bind to bacteria, and a few mammalian galectins are known to kill the bound bacteria. In fish, no galectins with direct bactericidal effect have been reported. In the present study, we identified and characterized a tandem repeat galectin-8 from tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis (designated CsGal-8). CsGal-8 possesses conserved carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), as well as the conserved HXNPR and WGXEE motifs that are critical for carbohydrate binding. CsGal-8 was constitutively expressed in nine tissues of tongue sole and up-regulated in kidney, spleen, and blood by bacterial challenge. When expressed in HeLa cells, CsGal-8 protein was detected both in the cytoplasm and in the micro-vesicles secreted from the cells. Recombinant CsGal-8 (rCsGal-8) bound to lactose and other carbohydrates in a dose dependent manner. rCsGal-8 bound to a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and was co-localized with the bound bacteria in animal cells. Lactose, fructose, galactose, and trehalose effectively blocked the interactions between rCsGal-8 and different bacteria. Furthermore, rCsGal-8 exerted potent bactericidal activity against some gram-negative bacterial pathogens by directly damaging the membrane and structure of the pathogens. Taken together, these results indicate that CsGal-8 likely plays an important role in the immune defense against some bacterial pathogens by direct bacterial interaction and killing.

scholarly journals Nicotine Induces Polyspermy in Sea Urchin Eggs through a Non-Cholinergic Pathway Modulating Actin Dynamics

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nunzia Limatola ◽  
Filip Vasilev ◽  
Luigia Santella ◽  
Jong Tai Chun
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Sea Urchin Eggs ◽  
Cholinergic Pathway ◽  
Dose Dependent

While alkaloids often exert unique pharmacological effects on animal cells, exposure of sea urchin eggs to nicotine causes polyspermy at fertilization in a dose-dependent manner. Here, we studied molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. Although nicotine is an agonist of ionotropic acetylcholine receptors, we found that nicotine-induced polyspermy was neither mimicked by acetylcholine and carbachol nor inhibited by specific antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Unlike acetylcholine and carbachol, nicotine uniquely induced drastic rearrangement of egg cortical microfilaments in a dose-dependent way. Such cytoskeletal changes appeared to render the eggs more receptive to sperm, as judged by the significant alleviation of polyspermy by latrunculin-A and mycalolide-B. In addition, our fluorimetric assay provided the first evidence that nicotine directly accelerates polymerization kinetics of G-actin and attenuates depolymerization of preassembled F-actin. Furthermore, nicotine inhibited cofilin-induced disassembly of F-actin. Unexpectedly, our results suggest that effects of nicotine can also be mediated in some non-cholinergic pathways.

scholarly journals Adhesion-dependent and Contractile Ring-independent Equatorial Furrowing during Cytokinesis in Mammalian Cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 3865-3872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamitsu Kanada ◽  
Akira Nagasaki ◽  
Taro Q.P. Uyeda
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Cellular Slime Mold ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Normal Rat ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Coated Surfaces

Myosin II-dependent contraction of the contractile ring drives equatorial furrowing during cytokinesis in animal cells. Nonetheless, myosin II-null cells of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium divide efficiently when adhering to substrates by making use of polar traction forces. Here, we show that in the presence of 30 μM blebbistatin, a potent myosin II inhibitor, normal rat kidney (NRK) cells adhering to fibronectin-coated surfaces formed equatorial furrows and divided in a manner strikingly similar to myosin II-null Dictyostelium cells. Such blebbistatin-resistant cytokinesis was absent in partially detached NRK cells and was disrupted in adherent cells if the advance of their polar lamellipodia was disturbed by neighboring cells. Y-27632 (40 μM), which inhibits Rho-kinase, was similar to 30 μM blebbistatin in that it inhibited cytokinesis of partially detached NRK cells but only prolonged furrow ingression in attached cells. In the presence of 100 μM blebbistatin, most NRK cells that initiated anaphase formed tight furrows, although scission never occurred. Adherent HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells also formed equatorial furrows efficiently in the presence of 100 μM blebbistatin. These results provide direct evidence for adhesion-dependent, contractile ring-independent equatorial furrowing in mammalian cells and demonstrate the importance of substrate adhesion for cytokinesis.

scholarly journals Mechanism of the formation of contractile ring in dividing cultured animal cells. II. Cortical movement of microinjected actin filaments.

1990 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 1905-1911 ◽  
Author(s):  
L G Cao ◽  
Y L Wang
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Cell Cortex ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Cortical Actin ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Directional Movement

The contractile ring in dividing animal cells is formed primarily through the reorganization of existing actin filaments (Cao, L.-G., and Y.-L. Wang. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:1089-1096), but it is not clear whether the process involves a random recruitment of diffusible actin filaments from the cytoplasm, or a directional movement of cortically associated filaments toward the equator. We have studied this question by observing the distribution of actin filaments that have been labeled with fluorescent phalloidin and microinjected into dividing normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. The labeled filaments are present primarily in the cytoplasm during prometaphase and early metaphase, but become associated extensively with the cell cortex 10-15 min before the onset of anaphase. This process is manifested both as an increase in cortical fluorescence intensity and as movements of discrete aggregates of actin filaments toward the cortex. The concentration of actin fluorescence in the equatorial region, accompanied by a decrease of fluorescence in polar regions, is detected 2-3 min after the onset of anaphase. By directly tracing the distribution of aggregates of labeled actin filaments, we are able to detect, during anaphase and telophase, movements of cortical actin filaments toward the equator at an average rate of 1.0 micron/min. Our results, combined with previous observations, suggest that the organization of actin filaments during cytokinesis probably involves an association of cytoplasmic filaments with the cortex, a movement of cortical filaments toward the cleavage furrow, and a dissociation of filaments from the equatorial cortex.

Fibrinogen binding to the integrin αIIbβ3 modulates store-mediated calcium entry in human platelets

Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 97 (9) ◽  
pp. 2648-2656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Rosado ◽  
Else M. Y. Meijer ◽  
Karly Hamulyak ◽  
Irena Novakova ◽  
Johan W. M. Heemskerk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Adenosine Diphosphate ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Integrin Αiibβ3 ◽  
Fibrinogen Binding

Abstract Effects of the occupation of integrin αIIbβ3 by fibrinogen on Ca++signaling in fura-2–loaded human platelets were investigated. Adding fibrinogen to washed platelet suspensions inhibited increases in cytosolic [Ca++] concentrations ([Ca++]i) evoked by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thrombin in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of external Ca++ but not in the absence of external Ca++ or in the presence of the nonselective cation channel blocker SKF96365, indicating selective inhibition of Ca++entry. Fibrinogen also inhibited store-mediated Ca++ entry (SMCE) activated after Ca++ store depletion using thapsigargin. The inhibitory effect of fibrinogen was reversed if fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3 was blocked using RDGS or abciximab and was absent in platelets from patients homozygous for Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Fibrinogen was without effect on SMCE once activated. Activation of SMCE in platelets occurs through conformational coupling between the intracellular stores and the plasma membrane and requires remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Fibrinogen inhibited actin polymerization evoked by ADP or thapsigargin in control cells and in cells loaded with the Ca++ chelator dimethyl BAPTA. It also inhibited the translocation of the tyrosine kinase p60src to the cytoskeleton. These results indicate that the binding of fibrinogen to integrin αIIbβ3 inhibits the activation of SMCE in platelets by a mechanism that may involve modulation of the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and the cytoskeletal association of p60src. This action may be important in intrinsic negative feedback to prevent the further activation of platelets subjected to low-level stimuli in vivo.

scholarly journals Assembly of normal actomyosin rings in the absence of Mid1p and cortical nodes in fission yeast

2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 979-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinyi Huang ◽  
Hongyan Yan ◽  
Mohan K. Balasubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Ring Structure ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
In Cells

Cytokinesis in many eukaryotes depends on the function of an actomyosin contractile ring. The mechanisms regulating assembly and positioning of this ring are not fully understood. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe divides using an actomyosin ring and is an attractive organism for the study of cytokinesis. Recent studies in S. pombe (Wu, J.Q., V. Sirotkin, D.R. Kovar, M. Lord, C.C. Beltzner, J.R. Kuhn, and T.D. Pollard. 2006. J. Cell Biol. 174:391–402; Vavylonis, D., J.Q. Wu, S. Hao, B. O'Shaughnessy, and T.D. Pollard. 2008. Science. 319:97–100) have suggested that the assembly of the actomyosin ring is initiated from a series of cortical nodes containing several components of this ring. These studies have proposed that actomyosin interactions bring together the cortical nodes to form a compacted ring structure. In this study, we test this model in cells that are unable to assemble cortical nodes. Although the cortical nodes play a role in the timing of ring assembly, we find that they are dispensable for the assembly of orthogonal actomyosin rings. Thus, a mechanism that is independent of cortical nodes is sufficient for the assembly of normal actomyosin rings.

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