Stereocilia are actin protrusions with remarkably well-defined lengths and organization. A flurry of recent papers has reported multiple myosin motor proteins involved in regulating stereocilia structures by transporting actin-regulatory cargo to the tips of stereocilia. In our recent paper, we show that two paralogous class 3 myosins--Myo3a and Myo3b--both transport the actin-regulatory protei...

The function of Snail2 in mesenchymal tumors is, to date unknown. Using knockdown and overexpression studies, we show that Snail2 regulates migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Knockdown resulted in significantly decreased motility, remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton, and loss of cellular protrusions. Over-expression increased motility, formation of actin-rich cellular protrusions, ...

Gallbladder diverticula have the appearance of hernia-like protrusions of the gallbladder wall. This disorder may not be diagnosed until surgically resected because it has no clinical significance unless there are associated diseases. Gallbladder pseudodiverticula have an acquired cause, multiple fundal lesions, an association with gallstones, internal saccular lesions without external hernia-l...

D uring development, cells need to communicate with each other to establish properly organised and functional tissues. Cells communicate with each other in various ways, such as by secreting and receiving diffusible molecules (morphogens, hormones, and neurotransmitters) or by establishing intercellular connections (gap junctions and cell protrusions) to allow a direct exchange of instructive f...