Review
Biology
John Gardiner
Summary: Life on Earth has evolved to adapt to a substantial gravitational field, so venturing into space requires a reevaluation of adaptability. Astronauts' physiological changes in space may be related to the cytoskeletal tensegrity architecture, affecting both physical and mental functions.
Article
Cell Biology
Pai Li, Ze Zhang, Yiying Tong, Bardees M. Foda, Brad Day
Summary: Li and Zhang et al. introduce Implicit Laplacian of Enhanced Edge (ILEE), an algorithm and toolbox for unbiased, quantitative, and cytoskeletal image analysis. ILEE solves historical challenges and improves the accuracy, stability, and robustness of cytoskeletal quantification, as well as extending the number of quantifiable cytoskeletal features.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Yihao Li, Xin Zhang, Yi Zhang, Haiyun Ren
Summary: This review focuses on the organization and dynamics of actin filaments and microtubule network in guard cells during stomatal movement. The role of cytoskeletal-associated proteins in cytoskeletal rearrangements during stomatal movement is also discussed. The potential mechanisms of stomatal movement in relation to the cytoskeleton are explored, providing a foundation for further research in this field.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tibor Szenasi, Gabor Turu, Laszlo Hunyady
Summary: beta-arrestins, initially known for their role in desensitizing rhodopsin and other G protein-coupled receptors, interact with the cytoskeletal system, including microtubules, actin filaments, and intermediate filaments. They regulate the activity of microtubules by recruiting signaling proteins and interacting with assembly proteins that control the actin cytoskeleton and intermediate filaments. Dysregulation of the cytoskeletal system is implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Therefore, beta-arrestins are potential targets for future treatments of these diseases.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Andrea Ketschek, Sabrina M. Holland, Gianluca Gallo
Summary: This study reveals a novel function of SARM1 in regulating axon branching and cytoskeletal dynamics in sensory neurons. Knockout of SARM1 leads to excessive axon branching and filopodia formation, along with increased rates of axonal actin patch formation and microtubule polymerization. These findings highlight the negative regulatory role of SARM1 in axon morphogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Ruixin Ge, Minghui Cao, Miao Chen, Min Liu, Songbo Xie
Summary: Primary cilia function as sensory organelles that monitor extracellular signals and transduce them into intracellular responses. Actin and microtubule networks play critical roles in primary ciliogenesis and maintenance. Targeting cytoskeleton-associated proteins may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating ciliopathies.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Zhiyi Lv, Jorge De-Carvalho, Ivo A. Telley, Joerg Grosshans
Summary: Cell and tissue functions rely on genetic programmes and biochemical signals, while the physical properties of soft material play an important role in cellular function and morphology. The biophysical properties are determined by the cytoskeleton, consisting of dynamic networks and associated proteins. The Drosophila syncytial embryo, a simple pseudo-tissue, showcases how cytoskeletal dynamics underlies biophysical properties and collective features.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abiola Abdulrahman Ayanlaja, Xiaoliang Hong, Bo Cheng, Han Zhou, Kouminin Kanwore, Piniel Alphayo-Kambey, Lin Zhang, Chuanxi Tang, Muinat Moronke Adeyanju, Dianshuai Gao
Summary: This article reviews the underappreciated functions of cytoskeletal-associated proteins (CAPs) in oncology, highlighting their roles in cell signaling, molecular conformation, organelle trafficking, cellular metabolism, and genomic modifications. CAPs are proposed as vulnerable targets for cancer systems and credible oncotargets.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Klara Metzner, Omar Darawsha, Mengzhe Wang, Nayana Gaur, Yiming Cheng, Annekathrin Roediger, Christiane Frahm, Otto W. W. Witte, Fabiana Perocchi, Hubertus Axer, Julian Grosskreutz, Monika S. S. Brill
Summary: This study investigated alterations in cytoskeletal content and sensory axon caliber during aging using human skin biopsies. Results showed an increase in cytoskeletal components with aging in both sexes, while elevation in axon diameter was only evident in males. Transcriptomic data from aging males illustrated various patterns in gene expression, suggesting gender-specific changes in peripheral sensory axons during aging that may increase susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Zengyu Liu, Isabella Osterlund, Felix Ruhnow, Yiran Cao, Guoqiang Huang, Wenguo Cai, Jiao Zhang, Wanqi Liang, Zoran Nikoloski, Staffan Persson, Dabing Zhang
Summary: Rice is an important food crop, and the cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in its growth, development, and response to the environment. However, reliable markers for the cytoskeleton in rice have been lacking, limiting our understanding of its functions. In this study, fluorescent marker lines for the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in rice were generated, and their roles were investigated in pollen grain development, root cell development, and salt stress response.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Gao, Fumihiko Nakamura
Summary: This review article introduces actin-associated proteins (AAPs) and their roles in regulating cell movement, shape change, division, organelle localization, and trafficking. The article lists all discovered AAPs and allows sorting based on various criteria. It also provides links to databases for accessing detailed information about protein structures, expression levels, mutations, and pathology. Additionally, small molecules targeting actin and AAPs with potential for treating diseases are listed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Antonina Alexandrova, Maria Lomakina
Summary: Tumor shrinkage is not the only indicator of treatment success, as cancer progression and metastasis formation play crucial roles. The plasticity of tumor cells in switching between different migration modes contributes to their ability to avoid treatment. Identifying specific markers for migratory plasticity is important for successful treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Mason Parkes, Nathan L. Landers, Michael W. Gramlich
Summary: Presynapses efficiently communicate information by locally recycling synaptic vesicles. This study investigates the mechanisms of trafficking older synaptic vesicles back to the soma for recycling, and shows that the choice of microtubule or actin cytoskeleton networks depends on the speed of vesicle trafficking and the direction of transport. The loss of synaptic vesicle with bound myosin V is identified as the differentiating mechanism. These findings provide insights into the maintenance and plasticity of presynaptic function.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tina Paradzik, Iva I. Podgorski, Tanja Vojvoda Zeljko, Mladen Paradzik
Summary: Adhesion between cells and the extracellular matrix is crucial for multicellularity and tissue specialization. This study identified human cytoskeletal crosstalk proteins and highlighted the communication between focal adhesions, actin, and microtubules. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the early evolutionary history of cytoskeletal crosstalk and its importance in metazoan emergence.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Joseph Atherton, Melissa Stouffer, Fiona Francis, Carolyn A. Moores
Summary: We used cryo-electron tomography to investigate the subcellular architecture of mouse hippocampal neuron growth cones. Our findings revealed the penetration of hexagonal arrays of actin bundles and the modulation of actin bundles by altering individual F-actin helical structures. Microtubules with different end structures and lattice defects were observed in the growth cone. Absence of the cytoskeleton regulator doublecortin had no major effect on growth cone organization but highlighted the importance of microtubule integrity during growth cone migration.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)