Cytoskeleton
- The cytoskeleton regulates symmetry transitions in moving amoeboid cells
Summary: Dynamic shape changes of amoeboid cells are far from random, but are the consequence of refined symmetries and symmetry changes that are orchestrated by small G-proteins and the cytoskeleton.
- Phosphorylation hotspot in the C-terminal domain of occludin regulates the dynamics of epithelial junctional complexes
Summary: A conserved sequence in occludin determines the dynamic property of tight junctions and adherens junctions in the renal and intestinal epithelia, and regulates collective cell migration.
- How cells sense their own shape – mechanisms to probe cell geometry and their implications in cellular organization and function
Summary: We discuss mechanisms on how cells read their own geometry, and the importance of these mechanisms in different physiological contexts.
- Parallel assembly of actin and tropomyosin, but not myosin II, during de novo actin filament formation in live mice
Summary: De novo assembly of functional actin–tropomyosin filaments in live rodents is investigated. Unlike non-muscle myosin II, tropomyosin is added to the actin filament shortly after nucleation.
- Tension-dependent regulation of mammalian Hippo signaling through LIMD1
Highlighted Article: The mechanism through which YAP activity is regulated by tension at adherens junctions is demonstrated, which helps explain why cell proliferation is inhibited by high cell density and why Rho activity suppresses Hippo signaling.
- MARCKS-related protein regulates cytoskeletal organization at cell–cell and cell–substrate contacts in epithelial cells
Highlighted Article: Deletion of MRP in epithelial cells resulted in dramatic changes in the organization of multiple actin-based structures, likely by regulation of integrin signaling.
- A functional analysis of TOEFAZ1 uncovers protein domains essential for cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei
Summary: Analysis of TOEFAZ1, an essential kinetoplastid-specific cytokinetic protein, identifies the function of individual domains and implicates the protein in the positioning and timing of T. brucei cleavage furrow ingression.
- Premature termination codon readthrough in human cells occurs in novel cytoplasmic foci and requires UPF proteins
Summary: The cytoskeleton transports premature termination codon-containing mRNAs to be degraded by nonsense-mediated decay or to be read through in specific cytoplasmic foci called readthrough bodies.
- Loss of β-PIX inhibits focal adhesion disassembly and promotes keratinocyte motility via myosin light chain activation
Highlighted Article: Unexpectedly, β-PIX loss in keratinocytes increases the migration speed of single cells and promotes collective cell migration during wound repair by promoting actomyosin fiber contraction.