Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sashidar Bandaru, Chandu Ala, Alex-Xianghua Zhou, Levent M. Akyurek
Summary: Filamin A (FLNA) plays a crucial role in cell motility and vascular development by stabilizing actin networks and interacting with transcription factors and cell signaling molecules. Mutations in FLNA can lead to cardiovascular malformations in humans, highlighting its importance in cardiovascular health. The interaction of FLNA with transcription factors and cell signaling molecules dictates its function in vascular cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kaylyn R. Scanlon, Gabrielle Keb, Katerina Wolf, Travis J. Jewett, Kenneth A. Fields
Summary: Chlamydia trachomatis actively promotes invasion of epithelial cells through a type III secretion system and at least four effectors. TmeA directly activates host N-WASP to stimulate actin polymerization, while TmeB interferes with invasion. TmeA is dispensable for invasion in the absence of TmeB, and TmeB can interfere with Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yinna Wang, Guoning Liao, Ruping Wang, Dale D. Tang
Summary: Actin cytoskeletal reorganization is crucial for regulating smooth muscle contraction, with Abi1 playing a key role in this process through acetylation at K416. The interaction between Abi1 and N-WASP enhances actin polymerization, ultimately promoting smooth muscle contraction. Additionally, the localization of p300 in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells suggests a novel mechanism for the acetylation-dependent regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Joaquim Grego-Bessa, Paula Gomez-Apinaniz, Belen Prados, Manuel Jose Gomez, Donal MacGrogan, Jose Luis de la Pompa
Summary: This study investigated the functions and downstream mechanisms of Nrg1 signaling during ventricular chamber development. The Nrg1-ErbB2/ErbB4-Erk axis was found to be a crucial regulator of cardiomyocyte cell cycle progression and migration.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sandeep M. Nalluri, Chinmay S. Sankhe, Joseph W. O'Connor, Paul L. Blanchard, Joelle N. Khouri, Steven H. Phan, Gage Virgi, Esther W. Gomez
Summary: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a physiological process essential for embryogenesis and wound healing, but also implicated in pathologies like fibrosis and cancer. Regulation of phosphorylation status can impact cell physiology and gene expression changes during TGFβ1-induced EMT, highlighting the crucial role of intricate crosstalk between signaling cascades in regulating EMT processes.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huijie Zhao, Jian Sun, Christine Insinna, Quanlong Lu, Ziqiu Wang, Kunio Nagashima, Jimmy Stauffer, Thorkell Andresson, Suzanne Specht, Sumeth Perera, Ira O. Daar, Christopher J. Westlake
Summary: Ccdc108 is crucial for the formation and function of motile cilia, and it cooperates with the IFT-B complex to regulate the migration and docking of cilia, as well as the establishment of the apical actin network.
Article
Cell Biology
Ikuko Takano, Nobuo Takeshita, Michiko Yoshida, Daisuke Seki, Toshihito Oyanagi, Seiji Kimura, Wei Jiang, Kiyo Sasaki, Chisumi Sogi, Masayoshi Kawatsu, Teruko Takano-Yamamoto
Summary: Tenascin-like molecule major (Ten-m) and odd Oz (Odz) family member 3 (Odz3) plays a crucial role in early chondrogenesis by regulating actin cytoskeleton reorganization through modulation of RhoA activity and FGF2 expression. Knockdown of Ten-m/Odz3 inhibits ATDC5 migration and expression of chondrogenic genes via RhoA, while also independently inhibiting cell proliferation. These findings demonstrate the importance of Ten-m/Odz3 in chondrogenesis through RhoA-mediated actin reorganization.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Thomas J. Rands, Bruce L. Goode
Summary: The study identifies a new formin regulator named BIL2, which affects actin cable architecture and secretory vesicle transport in cells. BIL2 inhibits Bnr1-mediated actin filament nucleation, and its mechanism of action is distinct from that of Hof1 formin protein. Both BIL2 and Hof1 play different but complementary roles in inhibiting actin nucleation activity of Bnr1 to control actin cable assembly and polarized secretion.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi Zhang, Bang An, Wenfeng Wang, Bei Zhang, Chaozu He, Hongli Luo, Qiannan Wang
Summary: Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides leads to significant economic losses in rubber tree yield and other tropical crops. In this study, the researchers identified an actin cross-linking protein called CgFim1 in C. gloeosporioides, and demonstrated its crucial role in regulating the growth and pathogenicity of the fungus by organizing the actin cytoskeleton. The knockout of CgFim1 resulted in impaired vegetative growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity, as well as disrupted actin dynamics and ring structure formation in the appressorium.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Ying Xie, Yansong Miao
Summary: The dynamic assembly and remodeling of actin in filamentous fungi and budding yeast plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining polarity, with the polarisome at the tip region driving actin cable polymerization. Understanding the regulated interactions within the polarisome is essential for comprehending the tunable activities of the formin-centered nucleation core. Furthermore, the distribution and mechanical feedback mechanisms of polarisome components play a significant role in regulating polarized growth.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Or Ilovich, Monica Dines, Blesson K. Paul, Edi Barkai, Raphael Lamprecht
Summary: Fear conditioning leads to long-term fear memory formation, involving changes in synaptic transmission and morphology. Nck1, a key adaptor protein, plays a role in memory formation. Our research shows that Nck1 activity in excitatory neurons regulates glutamate release and affects fear memory formation. Moreover, Nck1 may serve as a target for pharmacological treatment of fear and anxiety disorders.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Paola Matarrese, Rosa Vona, Barbara Ascione, Marco G. Paggi, Anna Maria Mileo
Summary: The study demonstrates that the interaction between HPV16 E7 and gelsolin promotes cytoskeleton rearrangement, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and activating the HIPPO signaling pathway. This may play a role in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype in HPV16-transformed cells, providing potential therapeutic targets for HPV-related cancers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa Marie Walter, Sebastian Rademacher, Andreas Pich, Peter Claus
Summary: Under stress conditions, nuclear and cytoplasmic actin-cofilin rods are transiently formed to reduce actin filament turnover and ATP hydrolysis. The presence of actin rods in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) highlights the importance of dysregulated actin dynamics in motoneuron loss. Analysis of the composition of actin rods in a SMA cell culture model revealed binding of proteins involved in ubiquitination, translation, and protein folding, suggesting sequestration of these proteins and impairment of essential cellular functions. Involvement of profilin2 and its upstream effectors RhoA/ROCK in actin rod assembly in SMA indicates detrimental effects on motoneuron homeostasis by affecting actin dynamics and disturbing essential cellular pathways.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paloma Alvarez-Suarez, Natalia Nowak, Anna Protasiuk-Filipunas, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Tomasz J. Proszyriski, Marta Gawor
Summary: The study reveals the role of drebrin in the postsynaptic machinery at NMJs, including its colocalization with AChRs and enrichment at synaptic podosomes, as well as interactions with rapsyn and EB3.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)