scholarly journals Organization of Associating or Crosslinked Actin Filaments in Confinement

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maral Adeli Koudehi ◽  
David M. Rutkowski ◽  
Dimitrios Vavylonis
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Brownian Dynamics ◽  
Persistence Length ◽  
Monomer Concentration ◽  
Ring Formation ◽  
Short Range Potential ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization

AbstractA key factor of actin cytoskeleton organization in cells is the interplay between the dynamical properties of actin filaments and cell geometry, which restricts, confines and directs their orientation. Crosslinking interactions among actin filaments, together with geometrical cues and regulatory proteins can give rise to contractile rings in dividing cells and actin rings in neurons. Motivated by recent in vitro experiments, in this work we performed computer simulations to study basic aspects of the interplay between confinement and attractive interactions between actin filaments. We used a spring-bead model and Brownian dynamics to simulate semiflexible actin filaments that polymerize in a confining sphere with a rate proportional to the monomer concentration. We model crosslinking, or attraction through the depletion interaction, implicitly as an attractive short-range potential between filament beads. In confining geometries smaller than the persistence length of actin filaments, we show rings can form by curving of filaments of length comparable to, or longer than the confinement diameter. Rings form for optimal ranges of attractive interactions that exist in between open bundles, irregular loops, aggregated and unbundled morphologies. The probability of ring formation is promoted by attraction to the confining sphere boundary and decreases for large radii and initial monomer concentrations, in agreement with prior experimental data. The model reproduces ring formation along the flat axis of oblate ellipsoids.

scholarly journals The Fibrinogen Globe of Tenascin-C Promotes Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-induced Endothelial Cell Elongation

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 2933-2943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Schenk ◽  
Ruth Chiquet-Ehrismann ◽  
Edouard J. Battegay
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor ◽  
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor ◽  
Fibroblast Growth ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Tenascin C ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization

To investigate the potential role of tenascin-C (TN-C) on endothelial sprouting we used bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) as an in vitro model of angiogenesis. We found that TN-C is specifically expressed by sprouting and cord-forming BAECs but not by nonsprouting BAECs. To test whether TN-C alone or in combination with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can enhance endothelial sprouting or cord formation, we used BAECs that normally do not sprout and, fittingly, do not express TN-C. In the presence of bFGF, exogenous TN-C but not fibronectin induced an elongated phenotype in nonsprouting BAECs. This phenotype was due to altered actin cytoskeleton organization. The fibrinogen globe of the TN-C molecule was the active domain promoting the elongated phenotype in response to bFGF. Furthermore, we found that the fibrinogen globe was responsible for reduced cell adhesion of BAECs on TN-C substrates. We conclude that bFGF-stimulated endothelial cells can be switched to a sprouting phenotype by the decreased adhesive strength of TN-C, mediated by the fibrinogen globe.

scholarly journals The F-actin bundler α-actinin Ain1 is tailored for ring assembly and constriction during cytokinesis in fission yeast

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1821-1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujie Li ◽  
Jenna R. Christensen ◽  
Kaitlin E. Homa ◽  
Glen M. Hocky ◽  
Alice Fok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Actin Filament ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Ring Formation ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Mixed Polarity ◽  
Dividing Cells

The actomyosin contractile ring is a network of cross-linked actin filaments that facilitates cytokinesis in dividing cells. Contractile ring formation has been well characterized in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, in which the cross-linking protein α-actinin SpAin1 bundles the actin filament network. However, the specific biochemical properties of SpAin1 and whether they are tailored for cytokinesis are not known. Therefore we purified SpAin1 and quantified its ability to dynamically bind and bundle actin filaments in vitro using a combination of bulk sedimentation assays and direct visualization by two-color total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. We found that, while SpAin1 bundles actin filaments of mixed polarity like other α-actinins, SpAin1 has lower bundling activity and is more dynamic than human α-actinin HsACTN4. To determine whether dynamic bundling is important for cytokinesis in fission yeast, we created the less dynamic bundling mutant SpAin1(R216E). We found that dynamic bundling is critical for cytokinesis, as cells expressing SpAin1(R216E) display disorganized ring material and delays in both ring formation and constriction. Furthermore, computer simulations of initial actin filament elongation and alignment revealed that an intermediate level of cross-linking best facilitates filament alignment. Together our results demonstrate that dynamic bundling by SpAin1 is important for proper contractile ring formation and constriction.

scholarly journals The TRQQKRP motif located near the C-terminus of Rac2 is essential for Rac2 biologic functions and intracellular localization

Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1679-1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Tao ◽  
Marie-Dominique Filippi ◽  
Jeffrey R. Bailey ◽  
Simon J. Atkinson ◽  
Bret Connors ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Membrane Ruffling ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes

Rac GTPases regulate a wide variety of cellular processes including actin cytoskeleton organization, gene expression, cell-cycle progression, and apoptosis. Here we report that the TRQQKRP motif of Rac2 located near the C-terminus, a region of sequence disparity among Rac proteins, is essential for complementation of Rac2 function in Rac2-deficient cells. Deletion of this sequence can also intragenically suppress the dominant-negative Rac2D57Nmutation in a variety of functional assays. In Rac2-deficient cells, expression of TRQQKRP-deleted Rac2 protein is unable to completely rescue migration and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase deficiencies previously described in these cells. In fibroblasts, the Rac2D57N mutant phenotypes of abnormal proliferation, cell morphology, and membrane ruffling are suppressed by the TRQQKRP motif deletion. In myeloid hematopoietic cells, the deletion of the TRQQKRP motif eliminates a Rac2D57N-induced block in in vitro differentiation of neutrophils not previously described with this mutant. Mechanistically, deletion of the TRQQKRP motif results in diminished geranylgeranylation and delocalization of intracellular Rac2 protein. Taken together, these results indicate that the TRQQKRP motif in Rac2 protein is required for efficient prenylation and correct intracellular localization of Rac2 protein and is essential for Rac2 to mediate a variety of its biologic functions. These data suggest that precise localization of Rac2 protein in intracellular compartments and/or with other proteins/lipids is a prerequisite for its diverse functions.

scholarly journals Regulation of Yeast Actin Cytoskeleton-Regulatory Complex Pan1p/Sla1p/End3p by Serine/Threonine Kinase Prk1p

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3759-3772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guisheng Zeng ◽  
Xianwen Yu ◽  
Mingjie Cai
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Stable Complex ◽  
Serine Threonine Kinase ◽  
Threonine Kinase ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization

The serine/threonine kinase Prk1p is known to be involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton organization in budding yeast. One possible function of Prk1p is the negative regulation of Pan1p, an actin patch regulatory protein that forms a complex in vivo with at least two other proteins, Sla1p and End3p. In this report, we identified Sla1p as another substrate for Prk1p. The phosphorylation of Sla1p by Prk1p was established in vitro with the use of immunoprecipitated Prk1p and in vivo with the use ofPRK1 overexpression, and was further supported by the finding that immunoprecipitated Sla1p contained PRK1- and ARK1-dependent kinase activities. Stable complex formation between Prk1p and Sla1p/Pan1p in vivo could be observed once the phosphorylation reaction was blocked by mutation in the catalytic site of Prk1p. Elevation of Prk1p activities in wild-type cells resulted in a number of deficiencies, including those in colocalization of Pan1p and Sla1p, endocytosis, and cell wall morphogenesis, likely attributable to a disintegration of the Pan1p/Sla1p/End3p complex. These results lend a strong support to the model that the phosphorylation of the Pan1p/Sla1p/End3p complex by Prk1p is one of the important mechanisms by which the organization and functions of the actin cytoskeleton are regulated.

Evidence for an interaction between adducin and Na+-K+-ATPase: relation to genetic hypertension

1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (4) ◽  
pp. H1338-H1349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Ferrandi ◽  
Sergio Salardi ◽  
Grazia Tripodi ◽  
Paolo Barassi ◽  
Rodolfo Rivera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Kidney Medulla ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Pig Kidney ◽  
Genetic Hypertension ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization

Adducin point mutations are associated with genetic hypertension in Milan hypertensive strain (MHS) rats and in humans. In transfected cells, adducin affects actin cytoskeleton organization and increases the Na+-K+-pump rate. The present study has investigated whether rat and human adducin polymorphisms differently modulate rat renal Na+-K+-ATPase in vitro. We report the following. 1) Both rat and human adducins stimulate Na+-K+-ATPase activity, with apparent affinity in tens of nanomolar concentrations. 2) MHS and Milan normotensive strain (MNS) adducins raise the apparent ATP affinity for Na+-K+-ATPase. 3) The mechanism of action of adducin appears to involve a selective acceleration of the rate of the conformational change E2 (K) → E1 (Na) or E2(K) ⋅ ATP → E1Na ⋅ ATP. 4) Apparent affinities for mutant rat and human adducins are significantly higher than those for wild types. 5) Recombinant human α- and β-adducins stimulate Na+-K+-ATPase activity, as do the COOH-terminal tails, and the mutant proteins display higher affinities than the wild types. 6) The cytoskeletal protein ankyrin, which is known to bind to Na+-K+-ATPase, also stimulates enzyme activity, whereas BSA is without effect; the effects of adducin and ankyrin when acting together are not additive. 7) Pig kidney medulla microsomes appear to contain endogenous adducin; in contrast with purified pig kidney Na+-K+-ATPase, which does not contain adducin, added adducin stimulates the Na+-K+-ATPase activity of microsomes only about one-half as much as that of purified Na+-K+-ATPase. Our findings strongly imply the existence of a direct and specific interaction between adducin and Na+-K+-ATPase in vitro and also suggest the possibility of such an interaction in intact renal membranes.

scholarly journals Measurement of the Persistence Length of Cytoskeletal Filaments using Curvature Distributions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pattipong Wisanpitayakorn ◽  
Keith J. Mickolajczyk ◽  
William O. Hancock ◽  
Luis Vidali ◽  
Erkan Tüzel
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Persistence Length ◽  
Small Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Apparent Stiffness

AbstractCytoskeletal filaments such as microtubules and actin filaments play important roles in the mechanical integrity of cells and the ability of cells to respond to their environment. Measuring the mechanical properties of cytoskeletal structures is crucial for gaining insight into intracellular mechanical stresses and their role in regulating cellular processes. One of the ways to characterize these mechanical properties is by measuring their persistence length, the average length over which filaments stay straight. There are several approaches in the literature for measuring filament deformations, including Fourier analysis of images obtained using fluorescence microscopy. Here, we show how curvature distributions can be used as an alternative tool to quantify bio-filament deformations, and investigate how the apparent stiffness of filaments depends on the resolution and noise of the imaging system. We present analytical calculations of the scaling curvature distributions as a function of filament discretization, and test our predictions by comparing Monte Carlo simulations to results from existing techniques. We also apply our approach to microtubules and actin filaments obtained fromin vitrogliding assay experiments with high densities of non-functional motors, and calculate the persistence length of these filaments. The presented curvature analysis is significantly more accurate compared to existing approaches for small data sets, and can be readily applied to bothin vitroorin vivofilament data through the use of an ImageJ plugin we provide.

scholarly journals Regulation of the Actin Cytoskeleton Organization in Yeast by a Novel Serine/Threonine Kinase Prk1p

1999 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guisheng Zeng ◽  
Mingjie Cai
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Asymmetric Distribution ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Serine Threonine Kinase ◽  
Threonine Kinase ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Regulation Of Actin Cytoskeleton

Normal actin cytoskeleton organization in budding yeast requires the function of the Pan1p/ End3p complex. Mutations in PAN1 and END3 cause defects in the organization of actin cytoskeleton and endocytosis. By screening for mutations that can suppress the temperature sensitivity of a pan1 mutant (pan1-4), a novel serine/threonine kinase Prk1p is now identified as a new factor regulating the actin cytoskeleton organization in yeast. The suppression of pan1-4 by prk1 requires the presence of mutant Pan1p. Although viable, the prk1 mutant is unable to maintain an asymmetric distribution of the actin cytoskeleton at 37°C. Consistent with its role in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton, Prk1p localizes to the regions of cell growth and coincides with the polarized actin patches. Overexpression of the PRK1 gene in wild-type cells leads to lethality and actin cytoskeleton abnormalities similar to those exhibited by the pan1 and end3 mutants. In vitro phosphorylation assays demonstrate that Prk1p is able to phosphorylate regions of Pan1p containing the LxxQxTG repeats, including the region responsible for binding to End3p. Based on these findings, we propose that the Prk1 protein kinase regulates the actin cytoskeleton organization by modulating the activities of some actin cytoskeleton-related proteins such as Pan1p/End3p.

scholarly journals A SAC phosphoinositide phosphatase controls rice development via hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Guo ◽  
Hua-Chang Chen ◽  
Zi-Qi Lu ◽  
Min Diao ◽  
Ke Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Phosphoinositide Phosphatase ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 4 ◽  
Related Proteins

AbstractPhosphoinositides (PIs) as regulatory membrane lipids play essential roles in multiple cellular processes. Although the exact molecular targets of PIs-dependent modulation remain largely elusive, the effects of disturbed PIs metabolism could be employed to propose regulatory modules associated with particular downstream targets of PIs. Here, we identified the role of GRAIN NUMBER AND PLANT HEIGHT 1 (GH1), which encodes a suppressor of actin (SAC) domain-containing phosphatase with unknown function in rice. Endoplasmic reticulum-localized GH1 specifically dephosphorylated and hydrolyzed phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]. Inactivation of GH1 resulted in massive accumulation of both PI4P and PI(4,5)P2, while excessive GH1 caused their depletion. Notably, superabundant PI4P and PI(4,5)P2 could both disrupt actin cytoskeleton organization and suppress cell elongation. Interestingly, both PI4P and PI(4,5)P2 inhibited actin-related proteins 2 and 3 (Arp2/3) complex-nucleated actin branching networks in vitro, whereas PI(4,5)P2 showed more dramatic effect in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, the overaccumulation of PI(4,5)P2 resulted from dysfunction of SAC phosphatase possibly perturbs Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization, thereby disordering the cell development. These findings imply that Arp2/3 complex might be the potential molecular target of PI(4,5)P2-dependent modulation in eukaryotes, thereby providing new insights into the relationship between PIs homeostasis and plants growth and development.

scholarly journals MiRNA-155 targets myosin light chain kinase and modulates actin cytoskeleton organization in endothelial cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (8) ◽  
pp. H1192-H1203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Weber ◽  
Sinae Kim ◽  
Nicole Patterson ◽  
Kimberly Rooney ◽  
Charles D. Searles
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Mouse Aorta

Previously, we identified a microRNA (miRNA) signature for endothelial cells (ECs) subjected to unidirectional shear stress (USS). MiR-155, a multifunctional miRNA that has been implicated in atherosclerosis, was among the shear stress-responsive miRNAs. Here, we examined the role of miR-155 in modulating EC phenotype and function. In vitro, increased miR-155 levels in human ECs induced changes in morphology and filamentous (F)-actin organization. In addition, ECs transfected with miR-155 mimic were less migratory and less proliferative and had less apoptosis compared with control ECs. In mouse aorta, miR-155 expression was increased in the intima of thoracic aorta, where blood flow produces steady and unidirectional shear stress, compared with the intima of the lower curvature of the aortic arch, which is associated with oscillatory and low shear stress. These differences in miR-155 expression were associated with distinct changes in EC morphology and F-actin. The effects of miR-155 in vitro were mediated through suppression of two key regulators of the EC cytoskeleton organization: RhoA and myosin light chain kinase (MYLK). A novel direct interaction between miR-155 and the MYLK 3′UTR was verified by luciferase-MYLK 3′UTR reporter assays. Furthermore, the intensity of immunofluorescence staining for RhoA and MYLK in mouse aorta correlated inversely with miR-155 expression. In conclusion, a prominent effect of the multifunctional miR-155 in ECs is modulation of phenotype through alterations in RhoA, MYLK expression, and actin cytoskeleton organization.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Pkhd1 Impairs Tubulomorphogenesis of Cultured IMCD Cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 4398-4409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiyi Mai ◽  
Dong Chen ◽  
Tianbing Ding ◽  
Ingyu Kim ◽  
Sujun Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Cilia ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Duct Cell ◽  
Cell Contact ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton Organization

Fibrocystin/polyductin (FPC), the gene product of PKHD1, is responsible for autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). This disease is characterized by symmetrically large kidneys with ectasia of collecting ducts. In the kidney, FPC predominantly localizes to the apical domain of tubule cells, where it associates with the basal bodies/primary cilia; however, the functional role of this protein is still unknown. In this study, we established stable IMCD (mouse inner medullary collecting duct) cell lines, in which FPC was silenced by short hairpin RNA inhibition (shRNA). We showed that inhibition of FPC disrupted tubulomorphogenesis of IMCD cells grown in three-dimensional cultures. Pkhd1-silenced cells developed abnormalities in cell-cell contact, actin cytoskeleton organization, cell-ECM interactions, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, which may be mediated by dysregulation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. These alterations in cell function in vitro may explain the characteristics of ARPKD phenotypes in vivo.

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