Cytoskeleton Storms, Polarized Actin Cortex, and Protein Liquids Featured Membrane-Proximal F-Actin Restricts Local Membrane Protrusions and Directs Cell Migration Bisaria et al. | Meyer Lab | Science Global F-actin concentrations are highest at the front of migrating cells where actin-based protrusions push the membrane forward. However, subpopulations of F-actin may be performing opposing functions […]
Spiraling Kinesins, Small Molecule Degraders, and Foldable Actin Networks Featured Kinesin-14 Motors Drive a Right-Handed Helical Motion of Antiparallel Microtubules Around Each Other Mitra et al. | Diez Lab | Nature Communications Kinesin motor proteins that simultaneously bind two microtubules aid in remodeling cytoskeletal networks by sliding microtubules along one another. Microtubules can […]
Chromosome Bridges, DNA Webs, and Tubulin Citrullination Featured Mechanisms Generating Cancer Genome Complexity From A Single Cell Division Error Umbreit, Zhang et al. | Pellman Lab | Science Theories on the origin of cancer have historically centered on the gradual accumulation of deleterious genomic alterations over time. In recent years, however, researchers have discovered […]
Special Issue: Coronaviruses and the Cytoskeleton Note from the Editor: How does SARS-CoV-2 enter and navigate host cells? While this complex process remains elusive for a number of human betacoronaviruses, published studies on related viruses may serve as a springboard for understanding the infection and pathogenicity of the novel coronavirus underlying COVID-19. We have distilled […]
Journal Club Classics, Pure GTP-Microtubules, And Cytoskeletal Radiosensitizers Featured JCB65: Cytoskeleton Journal of Cell Biology This historical cytoskeleton collection commemorating the 65th anniversary of JCB features the seminal discoveries that disrupted the fields of tubulin and actin research. View the list of classic papers here. Journal Club Picks Dynamic microtubules deform giant unilamellar vesicles […]
Expert Protocols, Microtubule Branching, and the Actin Interactome Must Read Cytoskeleton Dynamics: Methods and Protocols Helder Maiato (Ed.) This Methods in Molecular Biology series outlines a range of experimental approaches for studying actin and microtubule dynamics, and is sure to be an invaluable resource to new and seasoned researchers alike. View the Table of […]
Tubulin mRNA Degradation, Global Actin Flows, and Microtubule Plasticity Must Read TTC5 Mediates Autoregulation Of Tubulin Via mRNA Degradation Lin et al. | Hegde Lab | Science The soluble pool of tubulin monomers influences microtubule dynamics and microtubule-driven cellular processes including mitosis. As such, the cell imparts strict control over the concentration of soluble tubulin by […]
Cell Synthesis, Kinesin Tug-Of-War, and Diverse Yeast Mitosis Must Read Spontaneous Emergence Of Cell-Like Organization In Xenopus Egg Extracts Cheng and Ferrell | Ferrell Lab | Science The cell exhibits remarkable spatiotemporal control over its molecular constituents. Much of the cell’s internal organization was previously thought to arise from the inheritance of an already ordered […]
Microtubule-Mediated Myelination, Synthetic MAPs, and Unusual Critical Concentrations Must Read The Golgi Outpost Protein TPPP Nucleates Microtubules and Is Critical for Myelination Fu et al. | Bechstedt and Barres Labs | Cell Oligodendrocytes extend dozens of protrusions that envelop neighboring axons in insulating myelin sheaths. An intriguing population of lamellar microtubules spiral around the myelin sheath […]
Tau Islands, Actin Locks, and Automated Kymograph Analysis Must Reads Cohesive Tau Islands Shield and Protect the Microtubule Lattice Tau, a microtubule-associated protein in the brain, is primarily recognized for its role in neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, the term “tauopathy” was specifically coined to reference neuronal disorders pathologically defined by tau protein aggregates. But […]
Light-Patterned Microtubule Asters, Nuclear Actin, And EB3-Islands Must Read Controlling Organization And Forces In Active Matter Through Optically Defined Boundaries Ross et al. | Nature Cytoskeletal networks are dynamic, reconfigurable systems exquisitely tuned by the cell to perform a variety of functions. Reconstituting the diverse organization patterns of actin and microtubule networks in vitro […]
Minus-End Growth, Reconstituted Spindle Midzones, and Contorted Microtubules Must Read Patronin-Mediated Minus End Growth Is Required For Dendritic Microtubule Polarity Feng et al. | Journal of Cell Biology Microtubule minus-ends are often stably capped in cells, yielding the spotlight to their more dynamic plus-end counterparts. However, dendritic neurons present a compelling case for significant […]
Spindle-F-Actin, Molecular Gearshifts, and Cytoplasmic Softening Must Read Spindle-F-Actin Interactions in Mitotic Spindles in an Intact Vertebrate Epithelium Kita et al. | Molecular Biology of the Cell A compelling subject for striking microscopy images, microtubules have long been considered the major mechanical component of the mitotic spindle. But a long-standing question has been whether […]
Spindle Heterogeneity, Microtubule Search and Capture, and Bulk Actin Waves Must Read Mechanically Distinct Microtubule Arrays Determine the Length and Force Response of the Meiotic Spindle Takagi et al. | Developmental Cell The spindle is a remarkable macromolecular machine comprised of dynamic microtubules and associated factors. Given its critical job in driving chromosome segregation, […]
Tubulin Beyond Microtubules, Inhibitable Kinesin-2, and Designer Organelles Must Reads Tubulin mRNA Stability Is Sensitive To Change In Microtubule Dynamics Caused By Multiple Physiological And Toxic Cues Gasic, Boswell, and Mitchison | PLoS Biol. As the molecular building blocks of microtubules, alpha- and beta-tubulin heterodimers are subject to cellular surveillance. Studies in the 1980s […]
Peeling Actomyosin Bundles, Tubulin Accretion, and Mapping the Primary Cilium Must Reads Directionality Of Dynein Is Controlled By The Angle And Length Of Its Stalk Can et al. | Nature Dynein motors possess an uncanny ability to walk toward the microtubule minus end. This minus end directionality is critical for retrograde intracellular transport (among other cellular […]