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Extent of myosin penetration within the actin cortex regulates cell surface mechanics

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Truong Quang, Binh An 
Peters, Ruby 
Cassani, Davide A. D. 
Chugh, Priyamvada 

Abstract

Abstract: In animal cells, shape is mostly determined by the actomyosin cortex, a thin cytoskeletal network underlying the plasma membrane. Myosin motors generate tension in the cortex, and tension gradients result in cellular deformations. As such, many cell morphogenesis studies have focused on the mechanisms controlling myosin activity and recruitment to the cortex. Here, we demonstrate using super-resolution microscopy that myosin does not always overlap with actin at the cortex, but remains restricted towards the cytoplasm in cells with low cortex tension. We propose that this restricted penetration results from steric hindrance, as myosin minifilaments are considerably larger than the cortical actin meshsize. We identify myosin activity and actin network architecture as key regulators of myosin penetration into the cortex, and show that increasing myosin penetration increases cortical tension. Our study reveals that the spatial coordination of myosin and actin at the cortex regulates cell surface mechanics, and unveils an important mechanism whereby myosin size controls its action by limiting minifilament penetration into the cortical actin network. More generally, our findings suggest that protein size could regulate function in dense cytoskeletal structures.

Description

Keywords

Article, /631/57, /631/80/2373/2238, /631/80/128/1276, /631/80/128/1675, /9, /14, /14/28, /13, /147/3, article

Journal Title

Nature Communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK
Sponsorship
RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (BB/R000042)
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) (RGY 66/2013, RGY 66/2013)
RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC) (MC_UU_12018/5)
EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) (820188-NanoMechShape)