scholarly journals THE CONTRACTILE RING

1972 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Schroeder

The first cleavage furrow in eggs of Arbacia (sea urchin) is accompanied by a uniform ring of aligned microfilaments, called the contractile ring. Individual contractile ring filaments measure 35–60 A and occasionally appear "hollow." The contractile ring exists from about 20 sec after anaphase to the end of furrowing activity, i.e., 6–7 min at 20°C. It is closely associated with the plasma membrane at all times, and is probably assembled there. It is about 8 µ wide and 0.2 µ thick throughout cleavage. Its volume decreases, however, suggesting a contraction-related disassembly of contractile ring filaments, rather than a sliding-filament mechanism in the strict sense. Cytochalasin B (>10-6 M) arrests cleavage within 60 sec, by which time contractile ring filaments are no longer visible ultrastructurally. The furrow may be seen to recede within this time. Karyokinesis is unaffected. Simultaneous disruption of furrowing activity and of the contractile ring largely confirms the vital role of the contractile ring as the organelle of cell cleavage.

Open Biology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 130081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Takeda ◽  
Iain M. Robinson ◽  
Matthew M. Savoian ◽  
John R. Griffiths ◽  
Anthony D. Whetton ◽  
...  

Cytokinesis is a highly ordered cellular process driven by interactions between central spindle microtubules and the actomyosin contractile ring linked to the dynamic remodelling of the plasma membrane. The mechanisms responsible for reorganizing the plasma membrane at the cell equator and its coupling to the contractile ring in cytokinesis are poorly understood. We report here that Syndapin, a protein containing an F-BAR domain required for membrane curvature, contributes to the remodelling of the plasma membrane around the contractile ring for cytokinesis. Syndapin colocalizes with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P 2 ) at the cleavage furrow, where it directly interacts with a contractile ring component, Anillin. Accordingly, Anillin is mislocalized during cytokinesis in Syndapin mutants. Elevated or diminished expression of Syndapin leads to cytokinesis defects with abnormal cortical dynamics. The minimal segment of Syndapin, which is able to localize to the cleavage furrow and induce cytokinesis defects, is the F-BAR domain and its immediate C-terminal sequences. Phosphorylation of this region prevents this functional interaction, resulting in reduced ability of Syndapin to bind to and deform membranes. Thus, the dephosphorylated form of Syndapin mediates both remodelling of the plasma membrane and its proper coupling to the cytokinetic machinery.


Zygote ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiichiro Kyozuka ◽  
Kenzi Osanai

SummaryDuring fertilisation in starfish oocytes, the fertilisation cone develops temporarily beneath the penetrating sperm. The role of the fertilisation cone in sperm incorporation in the starfish Asterias amurensis was examined using cytochalasin B (CB). CB (2 μM) allowed sperm acrosomal process–egg plasma membrane fusion and egg activation, but inhibited the development of the fertilisation cone containing actin microfilaments. When sperm were added to intact oocytes (with the jelly coat and vitelline coat) in seawater containing CB, the sperm head did not penetrate the fertilisation membrane. Although the acrosomal process fused with egg plasma membrane, the sperm head remained outside the fertilisation membrane. On the other hand, denuded oocytes without the jelly coat and vitelline coat allowed sperm penetration even in the presence of 2 μM CB. Electron microscopy revealed that sperm organelles, including the acrosomal process, nucleus, mitochondrion and tail, were incorporated into the slightly electron-dense cytoplasm, which was similar to the cytoplasm of the fertilisation cone. These results show that the development of the fertilisation cone/actin filament complex is not essential for incorporation of the sperm, since incorporation can occur in denuded oocytes. However, the cone is required for fertilisation of intact oocytes, suggesting that this actin-filament-containing structure is necessary for getting the sperm through the outer egg coats.


1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian S. Spooner ◽  
Kenneth M. Yamada ◽  
Norman K. Wessells

The role of microfilaments in generating cell locomotion has been investigated in glial cells migrating in vitro. Such cells are found to contain two types of microfilament systems: First, a sheath of 50–70-A in diameter filaments is present in the cytoplasm at the base of the cells, just inside the plasma membrane, and in cell processes. Second, a network of 50-A in diameter filaments is found just beneath the plasma membrane at the leading edge (undulating membrane locomotory organelle) and along the sides of the cell. The drug, cytochalasin B, causes a rapid cessation of migration and a disruption of the microfilament network. Other organelles, including the microfilament sheath and microtubules, are unaltered by the drug, and protein synthesis is not inhibited. Removal of cytochalasin results in complete recovery of migratory capabilities, even in the absence of virtually all protein synthesis. Colchicine, at levels sufficient to disrupt all microtubules, has no effect on undulating membrane activity, on net cell movement, or on microfilament integrity. The microfilament network is, therefore, indispensable for locomotion.


1990 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-306
Author(s):  
B. Zurek ◽  
J.M. Sanger ◽  
J.W. Sanger ◽  
B.M. Jockusch

The role of myosin filaments during assembly and activity of microfilament rings was analyzed by microinjecting epitheloid cells (PtK2 and LLC-PK1 kidney cell lines) with specific anti-myosins. Six monoclonal antibodies directed against the light meromyosin (LMM) region of the myosin molecule were characterized with respect to epitope location, and their effects on actin-activated MgATPase as well as on assembly, structural integrity and stability of myosin filaments. All of these antibodies recognized LLC-PK1 myosin, but only three reacted with PtK2 myosin. The remaining three served as matching controls in experiments with this cell line. When injected in amounts sufficient to yield an excess of antibody over myosin, the reactive antibodies significantly delayed formation and constriction of the contractile ring in mitotic cells. These rings contained less myosin, but not less actin, than the controls. This indicates that the recruitment and alignment of actin in the cleavage furrow can occur independently of other components of the contractile ring. After completion of cytokinesis, the majority of the injected cells was unable to assemble a normal circumferential belt. This resulted in defective epitheloid sheets. Approximately one third of these cells showed grossly distorted cell shapes and an increase in locomotory activity. All these changes were fully reversible with time, suggesting that the effects of the antibodies were overcome by protein synthesis. The differential sensitivity seen between contractile rings and peripheral belts is discussed with respect to differences in their architecture, stability and proposed function.


2000 ◽  
Vol 149 (6) ◽  
pp. 1215-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Emoto ◽  
Masato Umeda

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is a major membrane phospholipid that is mainly localized in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. We previously demonstrated that PE was exposed on the cell surface of the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Immobilization of cell surface PE by a PE-binding peptide inhibited disassembly of the contractile ring components, including myosin II and radixin, resulting in formation of a long cytoplasmic bridge between the daughter cells. This blockade of contractile ring disassembly was reversed by removal of the surface-bound peptide, suggesting that the PE exposure plays a crucial role in cytokinesis. To further examine the role of PE in cytokinesis, we established a mutant cell line with a specific decrease in the cellular PE level. On the culture condition in which the cell surface PE level was significantly reduced, the mutant ceased cell growth in cytokinesis, and the contractile ring remained in the cleavage furrow. Addition of PE or ethanolamine, a precursor of PE synthesis, restored the cell surface PE on the cleavage furrow and normal cytokinesis. These findings provide the first evidence that PE is required for completion of cytokinesis in mammalian cells, and suggest that redistribution of PE on the cleavage furrow may contribute to regulation of contractile ring disassembly.


1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (7) ◽  
pp. 1853-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Mabuchi

Cleavage furrow formation at the first cell division of sea urchin and sand dollar eggs was investigated in detail by fluorescence staining of actin filaments with rhodamine-phalloidin of either whole eggs or isolated egg cortices. Cortical actin filaments were clustered at anaphase and then the clusters became fibrillar at the end of anaphase. The timing when the contractile ring actin filaments appear was precisely determined in the course of mitosis: accumulation of the contractile ring actin filaments at the equatorial cell cortex is first noticed at the beginning of telophase (shortly before furrow formation), when the chromosomal vesicles are fusing with each other. The accumulated actin filaments were not well organized at the early stage but were organized into parallel bundles as the furrowing progressed. The bundles were finally fused into a tightly packed filament belt. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-binding sites were distributed on the surface of the egg in a manner similar to the actin filaments after anaphase. The WGA-binding sites became accumulated in the contractile ring together with the contractile ring actin filaments, indicating an intimate relationship between these sites and actin filament-anchoring sites on the plasma membrane. Myosin also appeared in the contractile ring together with the actin filaments. The ‘cleavage stimulus’, a signal hypothesized by Rappaport (reviewed by R. Rappaport (1986) Int. Rev. Cytol. 105, 245–281) was suggested to induce aggregation or bundling of the actin filaments in the cortical layer.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia G. Calarco

Mouse oocyte microfilaments (MF) were perturbed by depolymerization (cytochalasin B) or stabilization (jasplakinolide) and correlated meiotic defects examined by confocal microscopy. MF, microtubules, and mitochondria were vitally stained; centrosomes (γ-tubulin), after fixation. MF depolymerization by cytochalasin in culture medium did not affect central migration of centrosomes, mitochondria, or nuclear breakdown (GVBD); some MF signal was localized around the germinal vesicle (GV). In maturation-blocking medium (containing IBMX), central movement was curtailed and cortical MF aggregations made the plasma membrane wavy. Occasional long MF suggested that not all MF were depolymerized. MF stabilization by jasplakinolide led to MF aggregations throughout the cytoplasm. GVBD occurred (unless IBMX was present) but no spindle formed. Over time, most oocytes constricted creating a dumbbell shape with MF concentrated under one-half of the oocyte cortex and on either side of the constriction. In IBMX medium, the MF-containing half of the dumbbell over time sequestered the GV, MF, mitochondria, and one to two large cortical centrosomes; the non-MF half appeared empty. Cumulus processes contacted the oocyte surface (detected by microtubule content) and mirrored MF distribution. Results demonstrated that MF play an essential role in meiosis, primarily through cortically mediated events, including centrosome localization, spindle (or GV) movement to the periphery, activation of (polar body) constriction, and establishment of oocyte polarity. The presence of a cortical “organizing pole” is hypothesized.


1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.S. Bachman ◽  
D.R. McClay

We have investigated the distribution and function of an ezrin-radixin-moesin-like (ERM) molecule in the sea urchin. A sea urchin homologue of moesin was cloned that shares 75% amino acid similarity in the conserved N-terminal region to other moesin molecules. A 6.3 kb message is transcribed late in embryogenesis and is present in adult tissues. Polyclonal antibodies were generated to proteins expressed by a bacterial expression vector, and affinity purified. These antibodies recognize a single 75 kDa protein that is present throughout development in approximately equal abundance, and specifically they immuno-precipitate a single protein. We show by immunolocalization that SUmoesin has two predominant patterns during development. First, SUmoesin is rapidly redistributed after fertilization from a location throughout the egg cytoplasm to a location in the egg cortex. Later in embryogenesis, SUmoesin is localized to the apical ends of cells in the regions of cell-cell junctions. We show that SUmoesin is present in actin-rich regions of the embryo. Finally, we show that the location of SUmoesin requires an intact actin-based cytoskeleton. SUmoesin fails to localize to the plasma membrane after fertilization in the presence of cytochalasin B. Furthermore, SUmoesin loses its apical position in the region of cell-cell junctions in the presence of cytochalasin B in later stages of embryogenesis. This effect is reversible, and the microtubule inhibitor colchicine has no effect. These results show that SUmoesin becomes associated with apical plasma membrane structures early in development, and that SUmoesin is both coincident with actin and requires the assembly of actin filaments to maintain its localization.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weicong Qi ◽  
Jia Liu ◽  
Dayong Zhang ◽  
Haiying Lu ◽  
Hongbo Shao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Salt tolerance is a key trait in soybean breeding and plant responses to salt stress include physiological and biochemical changes that affect the movement of water across the plasma membrane. In this study, we report the interactions of a set of aquaporins, soybean (Glycine max) plasma membrane-intrinsic proteins (GmPIPs), in response to salt stress. Results: GmPIP1;5 and GmPIP1;6 formed hetero-tetramers with GmPIP2;4, GmPIP2;6, GmPIP2;8, GmPIP2;9, GmPIP2;11, and GmPIP2;13. We detected interactions between GmPIP1;6 and GmPIP1;7, but not between GmPIP1;6 and GmPIP1;5. Furthermore, GmPIP2;9 formed homo-tetramers, and this interaction was strengthened under salt and osmotic stress. Expression analysis indicated complex and unique responses to salt stress depending on the duration of the stress. For example, GmPIP2;8, encoding one of the heteromer-forming PIP proteins, was highly up-regulated under early salt stress.Conclusions: Our study highlights the vital role of hetero- and homo-tetramers, in salt tolerance; and improves understanding of the mechanisms by which soybean aquaporin isoforms respond to abiotic stress.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Govind Kunduri ◽  
Si-Hung Le ◽  
Nagampalli Vijayakrishna ◽  
Daniel Blankenberg ◽  
Izumi Yoshihiro ◽  
...  

AbstractDivision of one cell into two daughter cells is fundamental in all living organisms. Cytokinesis, the final step of cell division, begins with the formation of an actomyosin contractile ring, positioned midway between the segregated chromosomes. Constriction of the ring with concomitant membrane deposition in a spatiotemporal precision generates a cleavage furrow that physically divides the cytoplasm. Unique lipids with specific biophysical properties have been shown to localize to midbodies however, their delivery mechanisms and biological roles were largely unknown. In this study, we show that Ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE), the structural analog of sphingomyelin, has unique acyl chain anchors in spermatocytes and is essential for meiosis cytokinesis. We found that disengagement of the central spindle from the contractile ring but not localization of phosphatidyl inositols (PIPs) at the plasma membrane was responsible for the male meiosis cytokinesis defect in CPE deficient animals. Further, we demonstrate that enrichment of CPE in Rab7 and Rab11 positive endosomes which in turn translocate to the cleavage furrows to promote cytokinesis. Our results implicate endosomal delivery of CPE to ingressing membranes is crucial for meiotic cytokinesis.


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