Small GTPases are known to regulate hundreds of cell functions. In particular, Rho family GTPases are master regulators of the cytoskeleton. By regulating actin nucleation complexes, Rho GTPases control changes in cell shape, including the extension and/or retraction of surface protrusions and invaginations. Protrusion and invagination of the plasma membrane also involves the interaction betwee...

Fluorescent speckle microscopy (FSM) is a technology used to analyze the dynamics of macromolecular assemblies in vivo and in vitro. Speckle formation by random association of fluorophores with a macromolecular structure was originally discovered for microtubules. Since then FSM has been expanded to study other cytoskeleton and cytoskeleton-binding proteins. Specialized software has been develo...

Early morphogenic movements are an important feature of embryonic development in vertebrates. During zebrafish gastrulation, epiboly progression is driven by the coordinated remodeling of the YSL microtubule network and F-actin cables. We recently described the implication of Nrz, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homolog, in the control of the YSL cytoskeleton dynamics. Nrz knock-down induces premature ...

MICAL (from the Molecule Interacting with CasL) indicates a family of recently discovered cytosolic, multidomain proteins, which uniquely couple an N-terminal FAD-containing monooxygenase-like domain to typical calponine homology, LIM and coiled-coil protein-interaction modules. Genetic and cell biology approaches have demonstrated an essential role of the catalytic activity of the monooxygenas...

ABSTRACT Cell and tissue functions rely on the genetic programmes cascades of biochemical signals. It has become evident during past decade that physical properties soft material govern mechanics cells tissues play an important role in cellular function morphology. The biophysical are determined by cytoskeleton, consisting dynamic networks F-actin microtubules, molecular motors, crosslinkers ot...

Cell motility is a central feature of a range of normal and pathological processes, including embryonic development, tissue repair, immune cell function, angiogenesis, and cancer metastasis. The dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton power cell migration. A large number of proteins are known or suspected to play roles in regulating actin dynamics. While there are now many available small molecules ...

OBJECTIVE Actin cytoskeleton remodeling is necessary for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. A mechanistic understanding of actin dynamics in the islet is paramount to a better comprehension of β-cell dysfunction in diabetes. Here, we investigate the Rho GTPase regulator Stard13 and its role in F-actin cytoskeleton organization and islet function in adult mice. METHODS...

Metazoan cells harness the power of actin dynamics to create cytoskeletal arrays that stimulate protrusions and drive intracellular organelle movements. In plant cells, the actin cytoskeleton is understood to participate in cell elongation; however, a detailed description and molecular mechanism(s) underpinning filament nucleation, growth, and turnover are lacking. Here, we use variable-angle e...

Phorbol ester induces actin cytoskeleton rearrangements in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Calponin and SM22 alpha are major components of differentiated smooth muscle and potential regulators of actin cytoskeleton interactions. Here we show that actin fibers decorated with h1 CaP remain stable, whereas SM22 alpha-decorated actin bundles undergo rapid reorganization into podosomes within...

All eukaryotic cells, including the pancreatic acinar cell, tightly control organization of their cytoplasm which in large part relies on the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is comprised of three filament types: microtubules (tubulin), intermediate filaments (keratins), and microfilaments (actin). In addition to characteristics common to all cells, the pancreatic acinar cell is a polarized epith...