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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 31: Cell adhesion, mechanics and migration II
BP 31.3: Talk
Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 17:45–18:00, ZEU 250
Actin-MT interactions result in mutual sensing and remodeling — •Florian Huber1, Magdalena Preciado López1, Michel O. Steinmetz2, Anna Akhmanova3, Gijsje Koenderink1, and Marileen Dogterom1 — 1FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands — 2Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland — 3Division of Cell Biology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
The cooperative functioning of actin and microtubules (MTs) is increasingly regarded as a central element for many cellular key processes including cell division, cell migration, and adhesion. Several specific actin-MT linker molecules have been discovered, but a detailed understanding of their effects on actin-MT co-organization remains elusive. For a more profound and quantitative understanding of actin-MT crosstalk we developed a simple yet realistic reconstituted model system. To account for the diversity of cytoskeleton architectures we confront dynamic MTs with loose actin networks or rigid bundles. Coupling between the two cytoskeleton components is introduced in form of transient binding of growing MT plus ends to actin filaments using a physiologically relevant actin-MT linker (MACF). We find that MACF allows growing microtubules to steer actin bundle formation and to transport actin filaments. In return, existing actin bundles can reliably capture and guide growing microtubules. Facing a wide spectrum of different geometrical and mechanical settings, the same dynamic actin-MT cross-linker can hence lead to a rich repertoire of co-organizational effects, independent of biochemical regulation.