Both de novo-assembled actin filaments at the division site and existing filaments recruited by directional cortical transport contribute to contractile ring formation during cytokinesis. However, it is unknown which source is more important. Here, we show that fission yeast formin For3 is responsible for node condensation into clumps in the absence of formin Cdc12. For3 localization at the div...

Cytokinesis occurs by the ingression of an actomyosin ring that separates the cell into two daughter cells. The mitotic spindle, comprising astral and central spindle microtubules, couples contractile ring ingression with DNA segregation. Cues from the central spindle activate RhoA, the upstream regulator of the contractile ring. However, additional cues from the astral microtubules also reinfo...

The structural and functional maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) is essential for application to pharmaceutical testing, disease modeling, ultimately therapeutic use. Multicellular 3D-tissue platforms have improved hiPSC-CMs, but probing cardiac contractile properties remains challenging in a 3D environment, especially at depth live tissues. Usi...

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of aminobenzyl penicillin (AB-PC), methylchlorophenyl isoxazolyl penicillin (MCI-PC), and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) on the contractile response of guinea-pig urinary bladder. AB-PC, MCI-PC, and 6-APA, respectively, diminished the intramural electrical stimulation-induced contractile response. AB-PC had almost no effect on the co...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables accurate in vivo quantification of human muscle volumes, which can be used to estimate subject-specific muscle force capabilities. An important consideration is the amount of contractile and non-contractile tissue in the muscle compartment, which will influence force capability. We quantified age-related differences in the proportion and distribution of ...

LvsA is a Dictyostelium protein that is essential for cytokinesis and that is related to the mammalian beige/LYST family of proteins. To better understand the function of this novel protein family we tagged LvsA with GFP using recombination techniques. GFP-LvsA is primarily associated with the membranes of the contractile vacuole system and it also has a punctate distribution in the cytoplasm. ...

AIMS Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is critical for the differentiation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) into quiescent cells expressing a full repertoire of contractile proteins. Heterozygous mutations in TGF-β receptor type II (TGFBR2) disrupt TGF-β signaling and lead to genetic conditions that predispose to thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAADs). The aim of this study...

RIDDICK, DANIEL H. Contractile vacuole in the amoeba, Pelomyxa carolinensis. Am. J. Physiol. 215(3): 736-740. 1968.-The osmolality of the cytoplasm and contractile vacuole of the giant amoeba Chaos chaos was determined by micropuncture. Sodium and potassium concentrations of the cytoplasm and contractile vacuole were similarly obtained. Single contractile vacuoles were isolated. It was determin...

BACKGROUND In ischaemic cardiomyopathy, raised plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides are associated with a poor long term prognosis, while the presence of contractile reserve is a favourable sign. OBJECTIVE To assess the relation between plasma natriuretic peptides and contractile reserve. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS 66 cons...

Background: In ischaemic cardiomyopathy, raised plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides are associated with a poor long term prognosis, while the presence of contractile reserve is a favourable sign. Objective: To assess the relation between plasma natriuretic peptides and contractile reserve. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Tertiary referral centre. Patients: 66 consecu...