Article
Biology
Campbell D. Lawson, Samantha Peel, Asier Jayo, Adam Corrigan, Preeti Iyer, Mabel Baxter Dalrymple, Richard J. Marsh, Susan Cox, Isabel Van Audenhove, Jan Gettemans, Maddy Parsons
Summary: Fascin is an important regulator of F-actin bundling in tumor cells. It has been found that Fascin bundles F-actin within the nucleus, supporting chromatin organization and efficient DNA damage response. Increased nuclear accumulation of Fascin leads to sustained nuclear F-actin bundling, resulting in reduced invasion, viability, and apoptosis of cancer cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katja Scharinger, Sebastian Maxeiner, Carmen Schalla, Stephan Rutten, Martin Zenke, Antonio Sechi
Summary: The bimolecular complex between LSP1 and myosin1e plays a crucial role in regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling and focal adhesion dynamics in macrophages, impacting cell migration, lamellipodia formation, and focal adhesion turnover.
Article
Oncology
Minxia Liu, Ruyu Yan, Junjie Wang, Zhihong Yao, Xinyu Fan, Kecheng Zhou
Summary: This study reveals the mechanism of LAPTM4B-35 distribution in filopodia during cancer cell migration, as well as its effects on tumor dissemination and prognosis.
Article
Cell Biology
Nanami Ueda, Masashi Maekawa, Tsubasa S. Matsui, Shinji Deguchi, Tomoyo Takata, Jun Katahira, Shigeki Higashiyama, Miki Hieda
Summary: The linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex plays a critical role in regulating cellular structure and signaling during cell migration through traction force. SUN1, a component of the LINC complex, is involved in the maturation of focal adhesions and activation of integrin beta 1, which are both dependent on traction force.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ze Gong, Koen van den Dries, Rodrigo A. Migueles-Ramirez, Paul W. Wiseman, Alessandra Cambi, Vivek B. Shenoy
Summary: Podosomes are used by immune cells to generate forces, migrate, and search for foreign antigens. Individual podosomes probe their environment through oscillations, while multiple podosomes in a cluster coordinate in a wave-like fashion. However, the mechanisms governing these oscillations and wave dynamics are still unclear.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Shaobo Zhang, Timothy Saunders
Summary: During the development of complex multicellular organisms, the robust formation of specific cell-cell connections is essential for precise tissue structure generation. Various mechanical cues, including differential adhesion and cell contractility, play a role in regulating cell-cell recognition and contact.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhili Wei, Ru Wang, Xun Yin, Lian Zhang, Yunlong Lei, Ying Zhang, Yi Li, Jiaqian Wu, Youquan Bu, Guoxiang Jin, Chundong Zhang
Summary: PRR11 participates in filopodia formation, focal adhesion turnover and cell motility in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer cells through the ARP2/3 complex. Dysregulation of PRR11 expression may facilitate tumor metastasis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan K. Hylton, Jessica E. Heebner, Michael A. Grillo, Matthew T. Swulius
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate that filopodial actin filaments switch between bundles of fascin-crosslinked actin and cofilin-decorated filaments. The authors also observe that cofilactin is associated with various dynamic events within filopodia. Furthermore, the hyper-twisting of actin due to cofilin binding leads to a rearrangement of filament packing, which excludes fascin from the base of filopodia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Pepe, Stefano Pietropaoli, Matthijn Vos, Giovanna Barba-Spaeth, Chiara Zurzolo
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 can spread to uninfected cells by forming tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) and invade the brain, leading to neurological symptoms.
Article
Biology
Sylwia M. Czukiewska, Xueying Fan, Adriaan A. Mulder, Talia Van Der Helm, Sanne Hillenius, Lotte Van Der Meeren, Roberto Matorras, Cristina Eguizabal, Lei Lei, Roman Koning, Susana M. Chuva De Sousa Lopes
Summary: Gametogenesis in human females involves the interaction between germ cells and somatic cells during the formation of primordial follicles. Research has shown that fetal germ cells can form multinucleated syncytia, and as they progress in development, pre-granulosa cells contribute to separating individual germ cells from the syncytia. Understanding how primordial follicles are formed is important for understanding human infertility.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Carsten Baltes, Divyendu Goud Thalla, Uli Kazmaier, Franziska Lautenschlaeger
Summary: Actin plays a crucial role in maintaining cell shape and generating forces. By stabilizing actin filaments with miuraenamide A, we observed a decrease in filament dynamics and an elongation of filament length, resulting in altered cell migration speed and nuclear position.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Manos Mavrakis, M. Angeles Juanes
Summary: Cell movement is influenced by the turnover of focal adhesions, which traditionally was believed to be triggered by microtubules. However, recent research has discovered other molecular players that affect actin cytoskeleton dynamics, enabling directed cell migration.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianjiang Hu, Xiaowei Gong, Staffan Stromblad
Summary: Cells probe their microenvironment using membrane protrusion-retraction cycles. Spatial and temporal coordination between Rac1 and RhoA GTP-binding activities play critical roles in initiating and reinforcing protrusions and retractions. Rac1-GTP levels increase before protrusions, while RhoA-GTP levels increase before retractions. Rac1-GTP nadirs and peaks coincide with maximal edge velocity of local membrane protrusions and retractions, followed by declined edge velocity. The alteration of local Rac1-GTP precedes the alteration of traction force. Through optogenetic Rac1-GTP perturbations, we demonstrate the fundamental role of Rac1 in restricting the size and durability of protrusions and retractions, possibly through controlling traction forces.
Article
Cell Biology
Yong-Feng Yang, Ying Ying Sun, Donna M. Peters, Kate E. Keller
Summary: This study investigates the response of integrins and filopodial proteins in TM cells to mechanical stretch, revealing that beta 1 integrin and CDH11 have relatively rapid responses and may play a central role in sensing changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Abdurazak Aman Ketebo, Chanyong Park, Jaewon Kim, Myeongjun Jun, Sungsu Park
Summary: The study found that Filamin A (FLNa) plays an important role in cell polarization, migration speed, and invasiveness in U87 glioma cells.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Hans Keijdener, Jens Konrad, Bernd Hoffmann, Jose Gerardo-Nava, Stephan Ruetten, Rudolf Merkel, Jaime Vazquez-Jimenez, Gary A. Brook, Stefan Jockenhoevel, Petra Mela
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART B-APPLIED BIOMATERIALS
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele M. Nava, Yekaterina A. Miroshnikova, Leah C. Biggs, Daniel B. Whitefield, Franziska Metge, Jorge Boucas, Helena Vihinen, Eija Jokitalo, Xinping Li, Juan Manuel Garcia Arcos, Bernd Hoffmann, Rudolf Merkel, Carien M. Niessen, Kris Noel Dahl, Sara A. Wickstrom
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Hoffmann, Nils Hersch, Sven Gerlach, Georg Dreissen, Ronald Springer, Rudolf Merkel, Agnes Csiszar, Bernd Hoffmann
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anne Pora, Sungjun Yoon, Georg Dreissen, Bernd Hoffmann, Rudolf Merkel, Reinhard Windoffer, Rudolf E. Leube
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Krishna Chander Sridhar, Nils Hersch, Georg Dreissen, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Clemens Goegele, Christina Hoffmann, Jens Konrad, Rudolf Merkel, Silke Schwarz, Mersedeh Tohidnezhad, Bernd Hoffmann, Gundula Gesine Schulze-Tanzil
Summary: This study investigated the response of ACL-derived fibroblasts to mechanical strain in different culture conditions, revealing their characteristics in terms of cell survival, cell structure, cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and molecular expression in various environments. The results showed that cells subjected to cyclic stretching displayed different features compared to unstretched cells, indicating that cyclic stretching may promote the expression of tendon-related markers in ACL-derived fibroblasts for future tissue engineering applications.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aljona Gaiko-Shcherbak, Julian Eschenbruch, Nils M. Kronenberg, Michael Teske, Benjamin Wolters, Ronald Springer, Malte C. Gather, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann, Erik Noetzel
Summary: The study found that disruption of the basement membrane can lead to the transition of benign acini to invasive, while EGFR activation further compromises the barrier function of the basement membrane, promoting cancer cell invasion. Breast acini continuously sense the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix by forming new cellular protrusions, pushing and pulling on the basement membrane and extracellular matrix.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorg Hoehfeld, Thomas Benzing, Wilhelm Bloch, Dieter O. Fuerst, Sebastian Gehlert, Michael Hesse, Bernd Hoffmann, Thorsten Hoppe, Pitter F. Huesgen, Maja Koehn, Waldemar Kolanus, Rudolf Merkel, Carien M. Niessen, Wojciech Pokrzywa, Markus M. Rinschen, Dagmar Wachten, Bettina Warscheid
Summary: Mechanical stress can threaten protein structure and proteome integrity, but cells have folding and degradation systems to combat this stress. These systems play crucial roles in cell differentiation, adhesion, and migration, and are essential for maintaining the integrity of various tissues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clemens Goegele, Jens Konrad, Judith Hahn, Annette Breier, Michaela Schropfer, Michael Meyer, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann, Gundula Schulze-Tanzil
Summary: Cyclic stretch was found to increase the area colonized with cells on scaffolds, but had a negative impact on sGAG content and decorin gene expression. Pre-cultivation of functionalized scaffolds with spheroids was more effective in maintaining ligamentogenesis compared to using a cell suspension, leading to higher sGAG content and type I collagen gene expression in response to stretching.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Julian Eschenbruch, Georg Dreissen, Ronald Springer, Jens Konrad, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann, Erik Noetzel
Summary: The study reveals that actin microspikes are used as functional precursors for filopodia to initiate basement membrane penetration and widen collagen IV pores to anchor within the membrane scaffold via force-transmitting focal adhesions. Pre-invasive basal cells exhibit predominantly cortical actin networks and actin microspikes, which convert into highly contractile stress fibers in response to pro-invasive conditions. Ultimately, these EMT-related cytoskeletal adaptations are critical mechanisms inducing the invasive transition of benign breast acini.
Article
Cell Biology
Robin Puellen, Jens Konrad, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann
Summary: The epidermis forms a protective barrier against external damage, chemical factors, and pathogens, with mechanoprotective functions changing dramatically during development and aging. Comparative analysis shows significant differences in viscoelastic and plastic deformation behavior between embryonic and adult skin. Skin equivalents exhibit similar mechanical properties to adult tissue, especially after preconditioning, making them valuable model systems for studying cellular interactions in natural tissues.
Article
Cell Biology
Lukas Loevenich, Georg Dreissen, Christina Hoffmann, Jens Konrad, Ronald Springer, Joerg Hoehfeld, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann
Summary: Mechanical signals can influence various cellular processes, including cellular adaptation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mechanosensitive proteins sense mechanical signals and induce cellular signal transduction cascade reactions. Research has shown that cyclic stretch induces autophagosome formation, and autophagy can also affect cell reorientation processes.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jella-Andrea Abraham, Stefan Blaschke, Samar Tarazi, Georg Dreissen, Sabine U. Vay, Michael Schroeter, Gereon R. Fink, Rudolf Merkel, Maria A. Rueger, Bernd Hoffmann
Summary: The study suggests that neural stem cells are affected by pulsatile strain, influencing their quiescence and cytoskeletal organization. In addition, stem cells and their young progeny exhibit characteristic and distinct mechanoresponsiveness compared to other cell types in mammalian organisms.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Stefan J. Blaschke, Seda Demir, Anna Koenig, Jella-Andrea Abraham, Sabine U. Vay, Monika Rabenstein, Daniel N. Olschewski, Christina Hoffmann, Marco Hoffmann, Nils Hersch, Rudolf Merkel, Bernd Hoffmann, Michael Schroeter, Gereon R. Fink, Maria A. Rueger
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian Kleusch, Cornelia Monzel, Krishna Chander Sridhar, Bernd Hoffmann, Agnes Csiszar, Rudolf Merkel
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)