Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Allison Ogren, Sneha Parmar, Soumya Mukherjee, Samuel J. Gonzalez, Melissa Plooster, Mark McClellan, Anirudh G. Mannava, Elliott Davidson, Trisha N. Davis, Melissa K. Gardner
Summary: Kinesin-14 motors play a role in controlling microtubule lengths by interacting with microtubule plus-ends and walking towards the minus-end. The binding of Kinesin-14 motors to microtubule plus-ends results in a decrease in microtubule lifetime and elongation, while inhibition of Kinesin-14 minus-end-directed motility leads to extended interactions and stabilization of microtubule plus-ends. This study demonstrates the importance of Kinesin-14 motors in regulating microtubule dynamics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ryoma Ohi, Claire Strothman, Marija Zanic
Summary: The microtubule cytoskeleton is assembled from a finite pool of alpha, beta-tubulin controlled by autoregulation. Tubulin in its unassembled state plays a crucial role in regulating the formation and organization of microtubules. Tubulin also regulates microtubule-associated proteins and kinesin motors, forming feedback loops that connect the tubulin assembly cycle to the organization and dynamics of microtubule networks in a concept known as the 'tubulin economy'.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Kira Gromova, Edda Thies, Philipp C. Janiesch, Felix P. Lutzenkirchen, Yipeng Zhu, Daniele Stajano, Celine D. Duerst, Michaela Schweizer, Anja Konietzny, Marina Mikhaylova, Christine E. Gee, Matthias Kneussel
Summary: Homeostatic synaptic plasticity adjusts the strength of synapses to restrain neuronal activity within a physiological range. Kif21b, a microtubule-dependent kinesin motor, binds GKAP and regulates actin dynamics in dendritic spines. This study reveals that Kif21b controls homeostatic synaptic downscaling by promoting actin turnover and decreasing the number of AMPARs in spines.
Article
Developmental Biology
Melissa M. Rolls
Summary: The microtubule cytoskeleton is crucial for long-lived neurons, with their correct polarity being essential for transporting cargoes in the right direction. This review focuses on how microtubule polarity is established and maintained in neurons, highlighting the surprising complexity of mechanisms involved in organizing microtubules in the correct orientation.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastian J. Baumann, Julia Grawenhoff, Elsa C. Rodrigues, Silvia Speroni, Maria Gili, Artem Komissarov, Sebastian P. Maurer
Summary: Understanding where mRNAs are translated in the cytoplasm is crucial for protein expression. In this study, researchers discover that APC acts as an adaptor for kinesin-based mRNA transport, forming stable complexes with neuronal mRNA fragments. The interaction between APC-RNPs and kinesin-1 enables highly processive mRNA transport along microtubules, and the presence of end-binding protein 1 (EB1) facilitates dynamic movement of APC-RNPs. These findings establish the importance of APC in the bidirectional movement of neuronal transport mRNPs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sithara S. Wijeratne, Michelle F. Marchan, Jason S. Tresback, Radhika Subramanian
Summary: This study uses atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe the dynamic reorganization of microtubule arrays by depolymerizing enzymes. Previously unseen destabilization modes of microtubule arrays by depolymerases are discovered. The study reveals that different depolymerases exhibit distinct depolymerization patterns, leading to either large-scale destabilization or length regulation of microtubule arrays.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer Radwitz, Torben J. Hausrat, Frank F. Heisler, Philipp C. Janiesch, Yvonne Pechmann, Michael Rubhausen, Matthias Kneussel
Summary: In this study, it was found that neuronal activity can affect microtubule growth and Tubb3 expression, with downregulation of Tubb3 accelerating microtubule growth specifically in axons and dendrites. This downregulation also led to an upregulation of the Tubb4 gene expression and reduced tubulin polyglutamylation, while increasing KIF5C motility and boosting the transport of synaptic cargo N-Cadherin. This suggests a feedback mechanism where neuronal activity regulates tubulin expression to influence microtubule dynamics and the delivery of synaptic cargoes.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Corinna Benz, Nora Muller, Sabine Kaltenbrunner, Hana Vachova, Marie Vancova, Julius Lukes, Vladimir Varga, Hassan Hashimi
Summary: In this study, a characterization of an orphaned X2 kinesin in Trypanosoma brucei was conducted. It was found that this kinesin interacts tightly with a likely inactive motor-like protein, TbPH1, and localizes to a poorly understood cytoskeletal structure called the microtubule quartet (MtQ). Another X2 kinesin, TbKifX2C, was also found to associate with the MtQ. Simultaneous ablation of TbKifX2A and TbPH1 resulted in morphological defects and an expansion of the flagellar pocket. This study provides insights into the co-evolution of the X2 kinesin family and the MtQ in trypanosomatids.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fanomezana Moutse Ranaivoson, Vincent Crozet, Matthieu P. M. H. Benoit, Amna Abdalla Mohammed Khalid, Carlos Kikuti, Helena Sirkia, Ahmed El Marjou, Stephanie Miserey-Lenkei, Ana B. Asenjo, Hernando Sosa, Christoph F. Schmidt, Steven S. Rosenfeld, Anne Houdusse
Summary: KIF20A is a critical kinesin for cell division and a potential anti-cancer drug target. The structure and unusual features of its motor domain, including a long L6 insertion, have been revealed. The sequence of KIF20A influences its mechanochemistry and motility properties, and the length of its neck linker is essential for its activity.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nicolas Delestree, Evangelia Semizoglou, John G. Pagiazitis, Aleksandra Vukojicic, Estelle Drobac, Vasilissa Paushkin, George Z. Mentis
Summary: Serotonin plays a crucial role in regulating neuronal networks responsible for various essential behaviors. Dysfunction of serotonergic neurotransmission is found in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neurodegenerative disease. The study shows severe dysfunction of serotonergic neuromodulation in SMA mice, suggesting that targeting 5-HT neuromodulation could be a potential therapeutic approach.
Review
Neurosciences
Camille Cuveillier, Benoit Boulan, Charlotte Ravanello, Eric Denarier, Jean-Christophe Deloulme, Sylvie Gory-Faure, Christian Delphin, Christophe Bosc, Isabelle Arnal, Annie Andrieux
Summary: MAPs play crucial roles in the development and function of the central nervous system by influencing microtubules and actin cytoskeletons, participating in signaling pathways, and contributing to molecular actions.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cordula Reuther, Paula Santos-Otte, Rahul Grover, Georg Heldt, Guenther Woehlke, Stefan Diez
Summary: This study demonstrates a method to multiply microtubules by severing and elongating them. The method can be applied to counteract the loss of microtubules on surfaces during long-distance and long-duration movements, and it enables microtubule multiplication in physical networks.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ping Xie
Summary: The study presents models for the diffusion of MCAK homodimer and the processive motion of Cik1-Kar3 heterodimer on microtubules. Despite different domain compositions, the two motors are proposed to use a similar physical mechanism for processive movement. The theoretical results quantitatively reproduce experimental data and explain the effects of domain mutation on motor velocity.
Review
Cell Biology
J. Richard McIntosh
Summary: Anaphase A refers to the movement of recently separated chromosomes to the spindle pole they face, accompanied by the shortening of kinetochore-attached microtubules. Cells regulate microtubule dynamics by localizing relevant enzymes and microtubule-associated proteins to specific places, while motor enzymes contribute to anaphase A by altering microtubule stability and pushing or pulling microtubules through the cell.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhendong Feng, Lopamudra Saha, Clio Dritsa, Qi Wan, Oleg O. O. Glebov
Summary: The function of the central nervous system is strongly influenced by temperature. This study reveals that hypothermia and hyperthermia trigger bidirectional re-organization of presynaptic architecture in hippocampal neurons, resulting in synaptic strengthening and weakening respectively. Hypothermia also remodels inhibitory postsynaptic scaffold, leading to enlarged sparse synapses enriched with GABAA receptors.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Mohamed Kodiha, Nabila Azad, Siwei Chu, Noah Crampton, Ursula Stochaj
Summary: This study reveals that oxidative stress induces the nuclear accumulation of RanBP1 and the signaling pathways mediated by EGFR and PKA play a role in regulating RanBP1 localization during stress. RanBP1 acts as a downstream effector of these signaling routes, positioning it at the intersection of important cellular signaling circuits.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2024)
