Journal Club – July 2020

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 to achieve directed cell migration. Here, the Meyer lab develops a probe that selectively illuminates the cell cortex in order to visualize membrane-proximal actin (MPA) independently of actin protrusions. The authors discover that MPA levels are lowest toward the front of the cell despite an overall enrichment of F-actin in this region. Polarized MPA density likely directs cell migration by regulating membrane tension.

Video


Cytoskeleton Storm Video ImageThe Gatlin Lab captures a stunning video of a “cytoskeleton storm” using microfluidics and photo-patterning.

Read the publication utilizing this methodology in the Journal Club Picks section below.

Journal Club Picks (find us in the methods section)


  • Microtubule growth slows in response to nearby growing plus ends.
    Geisterfer et al.  | Gatlin Lab  |  Current Biology
  • An adaptor protein synchronizes spindle disassembly and nuclear envelope reassembly.
    von Appen et al.  | Ullman and Frost Labs  |  Nature
  • A 3-protein module simultaneously grows single microtubules while stalling bundled microtubules.
    Mani, Jiang, and Subramanian  | Subramanian Lab  |  bioRxiv
  • A microtubule stabilizing compound has anti-cancer activity in taxol-resistant cancer models.
    Guo et al.  | McDaid Lab  |  Molecular Pharmacology
  • The chromosomal passenger complex hitches a ride with MKLP2 during anaphase.
    Adriaans et al.  | Akhmanova and Lens Labs  |  Current Biology
  • Cryo-EM structures reveal modular subcomplexes within the native human γ-TuRC.
    Wieczorek et al.  | Kapoor Lab  |  Cell Reports
  • Actin spontaneously partitions into droplets to form protein liquids.
    Scheff et al.  | Gardel Lab  |  Soft Matter
  • Cycles of dynamin assembly and disassembly generate stiff actin super-bundles.
    Zhang et al.  | Chen Lab  |  Nature Cell Biology
  • Actin monomer distribution regulates the assembly of complex actin superstructures.
    Skruber et al.  | Vitriol Lab  |  Current Biology

Our opinions are our own and do not represent the views or endorsement of the authors cited.

 

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