Rho Kinase Proteins—Pleiotropic Modulators of Cell Survival and Apoptosis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Rho kinase (ROCK) proteins are Rho-GTPase activated serine/threonine kinases that function as modulators of actin-myosin cytoskeletal dynamics via regulation of Lin11, Isl-1 & Mec-3 domain (LIM) kinase, myosin light chain (MLC), and MLC phosphatase. A strong correlation between cytoskeletal rearrangements and tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and deregulated microenvironment interaction has been reported in the literature, and the utilization of pharmacological inhibitors of ROCK signaling for the treatment of cancer is actively being pursued by a number of pharmaceutical companies. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton in dendritic spines.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Spine morphogenesis is largely dependent on the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Actin dynamics within spines is regulated by a complex network of signaling molecules, which relay signals from synaptic receptors, through small GTPases and their regulators, to actin-binding proteins. In this chapter, we will discuss molecules involved in dendritic spine plasticity beginning with actin and moving upstream toward neuromodulators and trophic factors that initiate signaling involved in these plasticity events. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
Bridging membrane and cytoskeleton dynamics in the secretory and endocytic pathways.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Transport carriers regulate membrane flow between compartments of the secretory and endocytic pathways in eukaryotic cells. Carrier biogenesis is assisted by microtubules, actin filaments and their associated motors that link to membrane-associated coats, adaptors and accessory proteins. We summarize here how the biochemical properties of membranes inform their interactions with cytoskeletal regulators. We also discuss how the forces generated by the cytoskeleton and motor proteins alter the biophysical properties and the shape of membranes. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
A nucleator arms race: cellular control of actin assembly.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
For over a decade, the actin-related protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex, a handful of nucleation-promoting factors and formins were the only molecules known to directly nucleate actin filament formation de novo. However, the past several years have seen a surge in the discovery of mammalian proteins with roles in actin nucleation and dynamics. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
Unleashing formins to remodel the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Formins are highly conserved proteins that have essential roles in remodelling the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons to influence eukaryotic cell shape and behaviour. Recent work has identified numerous cellular factors that locally recruit, activate or inactivate formins to bridle and unleash their potent effects on actin nucleation and elongation. The effects of formins on microtubules have also begun to be described, which places formins in a prime position to coordinate actin and microtubule dynamics. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
Cytoskeleton dynamics: fluctuations within the network.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Out-of-equilibrium systems, such as the dynamics of a living cytoskeleton (CSK), are inherently noisy with fluctuations arising from the stochastic nature of the underlying biochemical and molecular events. Recently, such fluctuations within the cell were characterized by observing spontaneous nano-scale motions of an RGD-coated microbead bound to the cell surface [Bursac et al., Nat. Mater. 4 (2005) 557-561]. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
Spectraplakins: Master orchestrators of cytoskeletal dynamics.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
The dynamics of different cytoskeletal networks are coordinated to bring about many fundamental cellular processes, from neuronal pathfinding to cell division. Increasing evidence points to the importance of spectraplakins in integrating cytoskeletal networks. Spectraplakins are evolutionarily conserved giant cytoskeletal cross-linkers, which belong to the spectrin superfamily. Their genes consist of multiple promoters and many exons, yielding a vast array of differential splice forms with distinct functions. Read more »

Category: Cytoskeletal Dynamics Tags:
Cardiac mechanotransduction and implications for heart disease
http://www.springerlink.com –
Mechanotransduction, the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into a cellular response, plays a fundamental role in cell volume regulation, fertilization, gravitaxis, proprioception, and the senses of hearing, touch, and balance. Mechanotransduction also fills important functions in the myocardium, where each cycle of contraction and relaxation leads to dynamic deformations. Since the initial observation of stretch induced muscle growth, our understanding of this complex field has been steadily growing, but remains incomplete. Read more »
Year of publication:
2003
Journal name:
Journal of Molecular Medicine
Mechanotransduction through the cytoskeleton
http://ajpcell.physiology.org –
We constructed a model cytoskeleton to investigate the proposal that this interconnected filamentous structure can act as a mechano- and signal transducer. The model cytoskeleton is
composed of rigid rods representing actin filaments, which are connected with springs representing cross-linker molecules. The entire mesh is placed in viscous cytoplasm. The Read more »
Year of publication:
2001
Journal name:
The Journal of Applied Physiology
Minireview: A Tiny Touch: Activation of Cell Signaling Pathways with Magnetic Nanoparticles.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Magnetic nanoparticles can be coated with specific ligands that enable them to bind to receptors on a cell's surface. When a magnetic field is applied, it pulls on the particles so that they deliver nanoscale forces at the ligand-receptor bond. It has been observed that mechanical stimulation in this manner can activate cellular signaling pathways that are known as mechanotransduction pathways. Read more »
Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
Endocrinology
