微管微丝交联因子1的结构与功能

微管微丝交联因子1(microtubule actin cross-linking factor 1,MACF1)是一种新的细胞骨架交联蛋白,属于血影斑蛋白(spectraplakin)家族成员之一,包含3个基本结构域即N末端结构域、杆状结构域及C末端结构域.其主要功能是交联微丝微管细胞骨架,参与细胞信号转导、蛋白质运输、胚胎发育以及疾病发生等过程.近年来,MACF1在细胞骨架动力学过程中的作用备受关注.现就该分子的结构与功能的最新研究进展进行综述.     

百合花粉及花粉管内微丝和微管的分布

利用免疫荧光定位及荧光定位方法,结合共焦激光扫描显微镜,对百合（ＬｉｌｉｕｍｄａｖｉｄｉＤｕｃｈ．）花粉及花粉管内微丝及微管的分布进行了观察,得出了一些新的结果：１化学固定方法可以较好地保存花粉和花粉管内的微丝,从而可以在此条件下较好地进行微管和微丝的双标记,并进行两者相互关系的研究;２在距花粉管顶端１０～２０μｍ的范围内,用化学固定及ＴＲＩＴＣ鬼笔碱标记显示微丝的存在是很微弱的,基本上无法看到明显的微丝束,而同时用免疫荧光法标记却发现此部位微管很丰富,在花粉管顶端微管形成浓密的网状,而且其末端与花粉管顶端质膜相连;３在花粉管中,只有少数微丝与微管相互平行排列,而其中大多数微丝骨架与微管骨架并不存在共分布现象。为了解花粉管内微管和微丝的功能及相互关系提供了新的证据。     

植物微管和微丝骨架研究的进展

从以上叙述的资料中可以看出,近年来在植物微管蛋白的分离及其化学性质、微管的组织中心、微管的异质性、微丝的分布,以及微管和微丝骨架的功能及基因调节等方面的研究取得不少新的进展;特别是从植物中直接分离微管蛋白取得成功、以及微管蛋白异型、微管冷稳定性与植物抗寒性的关系及微丝分布广泛性等的发现,对植物细胞骨架的进一步研究具有重要意义。     

小麦胚乳细胞内,细胞间胞质骨架分布格局的超微结构观察

以小麦（ＴｒｉｔｉｃｕｍａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍＬ．）幼嫩胚乳为材料,经ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ１００抽提、ＤＧＤ（ｄｉｅｔｈｙｌｅｎｅｇｌｙｃｏｌｄｉｓｔｅａｒａｔｅ）渗透、包埋,制备去包埋剂超薄切片,对细胞内、细胞间胞质骨架的分布格局与特征进行了电镜观察。由所获图像可见,胞质骨架呈主要由微管、微丝组成的三维网络结构;特别值得注意的是,有不少５～７ｎｍ的微丝在多处从网络表层向胞壁界面方向突出,并时而可见其横贯分界壁连接相邻骨架网络而将相邻细胞骨架联成一体。胚乳组织中微丝的跨胞分布以两种形式存在,直径达１００～２００ｎｍ微丝束的跨越和单个微丝的分散贯穿,看来这与该组织中开放态胞间通道与正常胞间连丝同时并存相吻合。初步讨论了微丝参与正常胞间连丝结构的可能性。     

细胞骨架纤维间的相互联系

细胞骨架是由微丝、微管及中间纤维组成的蛋白质纤维网络体系.三种骨架纤维具有不同的形态、结构和功能特征,它们在细胞中彼此联系、互相依赖,共同构成完整的细胞骨架系统,在细胞的各项生命活动中起着重要的作用.认识与研究细胞骨架的这三种纤维之间存在的相互联系,揭示它们作用的分子机制,对全面、科学的认识细胞骨架系统在细胞中起所的作用以及对于科学研究都有着重要的意义.     

WASP与微丝骨架研究进展

细胞骨架是细胞内由蛋白质万分组成的网架状结构,在细胞多种生命活动中起重要作用威奥综合征蛋白（WASP）家族为近年来发现的参与细胞信号传递和微丝骨架运动的中介蛋白,在促进细胞信号传递与微丝骨架运动而诱使细胞变形,趋化,形成伪足状突起结构中起到至关重要的作用。本文主要综述WASP近年来的研究进展及在介导T细胞信号级联及微丝骨架运动中的作用。     

微丝骨架蛋白分子重组与细胞转化

本文介绍正常细胞微丝骨架组装特点和与细胞贴壁及运动的关系;细胞转化后,应力纤维和粘着斑破坏,微丝骨架蛋白分子重组装,肌动蛋白小体形成等变化与转化细胞恶性行为的相关性。本文并提出今后有关本领域的研究方向。     

原子力显微镜技术检测几种骨组织细胞力学性能

为了探究几种骨组织细胞系的力学性能及其与细胞功能的关系,该文采用原子力显微镜压陷法分别检测了前成骨细胞系（2T3和MC3T3-E1）、前骨细胞系（MLO-A5）和骨样细胞系（MLO-Y4）的杨氏模量,利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察了这几种细胞微丝和微管的排布。结果显示,2T3、MC3T3-E1、MLO-A5和MLO-Y4细胞的杨氏模量分别为（7000±2015）Pa、（6600±2024）Pa、（4700±644）Pa和（4500±1622）Pa,与原代骨组织细胞的杨氏模量及变化趋势保持一致,但两种前成骨细胞的杨氏模量要显著高于前骨细胞和骨细胞。细胞荧光染色结果表日月＇前成骨细胞细胞核周围的微丝和微管分布密度要高于前骨细胞和骨细胞,而前骨细胞MLO-A5,尤其是骨细胞MLO-Y4的骨架主要集中于细胞突触和边缘,这可能是导致几种细胞力学性能差异的原因。该研究从生物力学的角度为进一步深入理解骨组织细胞结构与功能的关系提供了实验依据。     

白芨萜类化合物对人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡和细胞骨架的作用

利用白芨萜类化合物处理人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）并进一步研究了细胞凋亡及细胞骨架.白芨萜类化合物可拮抗血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）和碱性成纤维细胞生物因子（bFGF）刺激的HUVECs增殖并诱导细胞凋亡.在处理的HUVECs中caspase-8活性明显增加.流式细胞术分析显示经处理的HUVECs的凋亡率随处理时间延长而升高.通过对微管进行免疫荧光染色和微丝进行荧光染色后,用激光共焦扫描显微观察表明,白芨萜类化合物处理的HUVECs中的微管和微丝发生改变甚至被破坏.因此,白芨萜类化合物造成HUVECs凋亡很可能是通过促使微管解体以及微丝去组装造成的.     

植物微丝骨架动态变化的调节

由球形肌动蛋白聚合而成的微丝骨架,又称肌动蛋白纤维,它在细胞运动、细胞形态建成以及物质运输等诸多生命活动中发挥重要作用。细胞内微丝的解聚和聚合动态特性是微丝骨架行使功能的重要基础,并受到如微丝结合蛋白、金属离子、小G蛋白等各种因素的严格控制。植物细胞微丝骨架的研究虽然晚于动物细胞,但也取得了飞速发展。本文对植物细胞内微丝骨架动态变化的作用机制及一些主要调节因子的最新研究进展做一介绍。     

Large gradient high magnetic field affects the association of MACF1 with actin and microtubule cytoskeleton

The intense inhomogeneous magnetic fields acting on the diamagnetic materials naturally present in cells can generate strong magnetic forces. We have developed a superconducting magnet platform with large gradient high magnetic field (LG‐HMF), which can produce three magnetic force fields of ?1360, 0, and 1312 T²/m, and three corresponding apparent gravity levels, namely 0, 1, and 2‐g for diamagnetic materials. In this study, the effects of different magnetic force fields on osteoblast‐like cells (MG‐63 and MC3T3‐E1) viability, microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) expression and its association with cytoskeleton were investigated. Results showed that cell viability increased to different degrees after exposure to 0 or 1‐g conditions for 24 h, but it decreased by about 30% under 2‐g conditions compared with control conditions. An increase in MACF1 expression at the RNA or protein level was observed in osteoblast‐like cells under the magnetic force field of ?1360 T²/m (0‐g) relative to 1312 T²/m (2‐g). Under control conditions, anti‐MACF1 staining was scattered in the cytoplasm and partially colocalized with actin filaments (AFs) or microtubules (MTs) in the majority of osteoblast‐like cells. Under 0‐g conditions, MACF1 labeling was concentrated at perinuclear region and colocalization was not apparent. The patterns of anti‐MACF1 labeling on MTs varied with MTs' changing under LG‐HMF environment. In conclusion, LG‐HMF affects osteoblast‐like cell viability, MACF1 distribution, expression, and its association with cytoskeleton to some extent. Bioelectromagnetics 30:545–555, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Actomyosin is Involved in the Organization of the Microtubule Preprophase Band in Arabidopsis Suspension Cultured Cells

The microtubule preprophase bands （PPBs） participate in the sequence of events to position cell plates in most plants. However, the mechanism of PPB formation remains to be clarified. In the present study, the organization of PPBs in Arabidopsis suspension cultured cells was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy combined with pharmacological treatments of reagents specific for the cytoskeleton elements. Double staining of F-actin and microtubules （MTs） showed that actin filaments were arranged randomly and no colocalization with cortical MTs was observed in the interphase cells. However, cortical actin filaments showed colocalization with MTs during the formation of PPBs. A broad actin band formed with the broad MT band in the initiation of PPB and narrowed down together with the MT band to form the PPB. Nevertheless, broad MT bands were formed but failed to narrow down in cells treated with the F-actin disruptor latrunculin A. In contrast, in the presence of the F-actin stabilizer phalloidin, PPB formation did not exhibit any abnormality. Therefore, the integrity, but not the dynamics, of the actin cytoskeleton is necessary for the formation of normal PPBs. Treatment with 2, 3-butanedine monoxime, a myosin inhibitor, also resulted in the formation of broad MT bands, indicating that actomyosin may be involved in the rearrangement of MTs to form the PPBs. Double staining of MTs and myosin revealed that myosin concentrated on the PPB region during PPB formation. It is suggested that the actin cytoskeleton at the PPB site may serve as a rack to transport cortical MTs by using myosin when the broad MT band narrows down to form the PPB.     

Coordinated interactions between actin and microtubules through crosslinkers in neurite retraction induced by lysophosphatidic acid

Neurite development requires rearrangement of cytoskeletal elements, which are mechanically and functionally integrated with each other. Although the process of how an extracellular signal induces rearrangement of a single element has been closely examined, the mechanisms by which the signal regulates cytoskeletal integration during cell shape changes are poorly understood. We previously reported that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) induces actin polymerization-dependent microtubule (MT) rearrangement, leading to neurite retraction in cultured neurons. Here we examined whether the crosslinker proteins were involved in LPA-induced neurite retraction using immortalized mouse neuroblast TR cells. When the MT-binding domains of MACF (MT actin-crosslinking factor) were exogenously expressed in TR cells, MTs were found to be stabilized and become resistant to exposure to LPA. On the other hand, expression of MT-associated protein 2c showed no effect on LPA-induced neurite retraction. These findings suggest that MACF is involved in actin-dependent MT rearrangement during LPA-induced neurite retraction.     

Targeting of TMV movement protein to plasmodesmata requires the actin/ER network: evidence from FRAP

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to study the mechanism by which fluorescent-protein-tagged movement protein (MP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is targeted to plasmodesmata (PD). The data show that fluorescence recovery in PD at the leading edge of an infection requires elements of the cortical actin/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network and can occur in the absence of an intact microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton. Inhibitors of the actin cytoskeleton (latrunculin and cytochalasin) significantly inhibited MP targeting, while MT inhibitors (colchicine and oryzalin) did not. Application of sodium azide to infected cells implicated an active component of MP transfer to PD. Treatment of cells with Brefeldin A (BFA) at a concentration that caused reabsorption of the Golgi bodies into the ER (precluding secretion of viral MP) had no effect on MP targeting, while disruption of the cortical ER with higher concentrations of BFA caused significant inhibition. Our results support a model of TMV MP function in which targeting of MP to PD during infection is mediated by the actin/ER network.     

The Effect of cytoskeleton inhibitors on coccolith morphology in Coccolithus braarudii and Scyphosphaera apsteinii

The calcite platelets of coccolithophores (Haptophyta), the coccoliths, are among the most elaborate biomineral structures. How these unicellular algae accomplish the complex morphogenesis of coccoliths is still largely unknown. It has long been proposed that the cytoskeleton plays a central role in shaping the growing coccoliths. Previous studies have indicated that disruption of the microtubule network led to defects in coccolith morphogenesis in Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus braarudii. Disruption of the actin network also led to defects in coccolith morphology in E. huxleyi, but its impact on coccolith morphology in C. braarudii was unclear, as coccolith secretion was largely inhibited under the conditions used. A more detailed examination of the role of actin and microtubule networks is therefore required to address the wider role of the cytoskeleton in coccolith morphogenesis. In this study, we have examined coccolith morphology in C. braarudii and Scyphosphaera apsteinii following treatment with the microtubule inhibitors vinblastine and colchicine (S. apsteinii only) and the actin inhibitor cytochalasin B. We found that all cytoskeleton inhibitors induced coccolith malformations, strongly suggesting that both microtubules and actin filaments are instrumental in morphogenesis. By demonstrating the requirement for the microtubule and actin networks in coccolith morphogenesis in diverse species, our results suggest that both of these cytoskeletal elements are likely to play conserved roles in defining coccolith morphology.     

Disassembly of actin filaments by botulinum C2 toxin and actin-filament-disrupting agents induces assembly of microtubules in human leukaemia cell lines

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: C(2) toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum types C and D ADP-ribosylates actin monomers and inactivates their polymerization activities. The disassembly of actin filaments by C(2) toxin induces a polarization of cultured human leukaemia cell lines. RESULTS: The polarization induced by C(2) toxin was temperature dependent and was prevented by nocodazole, a microtubule-disrupting agent, whereas it was promoted by paclitaxel, a microtubule-stabilizing agent. The fluorescence staining of polarized cells indicated an increase in microtubule assembly accompanying disassembly of actin filaments. Furthermore, several actin-filament-disrupting agents, other than C(2) toxin, also induced microtubule assembly and cell polarization, irrespective of their different mechanisms of action. The effects induced by some of the agents, which have lower binding affinities for actin, were reversible in response to the re-assembly of actin filaments. CONCLUSIONS: Thus the disassembly of actin filaments by C(2) toxin and actin-filament-disrupting agents induces assembly of microtubules followed by polarization of human leukaemia cell lines, indicating that the assembly/disassembly equilibrium of actin filaments influences the dynamics of microtubules, which control cell morphology and, in turn, diverse cellular processes.     

Zebrafish lines expressing UAS‐driven red probes for monitoring cytoskeletal dynamics

Actin filaments and microtubules are principal components of the cytoskeleton that regulate the basic cellular phenomena underlying many fundamental cellular processes. Therefore, analyzing their dynamics in living cells is important for understanding cellular events more precisely. In this article, we report two novel transgenic zebrafish lines expressing red fluorescent proteins tagged with Lifeact or EB1 that interact with actin filaments and microtubule plus ends, respectively, under the control of the GAL4‐UAS system. Using these transgenic lines, we could detect F‐actin and microtubule plus end dynamics in specific tissues of living zebrafish embryos by crossing with GAL4 driver lines. In addition, we could achieve multi‐color imaging using these transgenic lines with GFP‐expressing transgenic lines. Therefore, our transgenic lines that carry UAS‐driven red fluorescent cytoskeletal probes are useful tools for analyzing spatiotemporal changes of the cytoskeletal elements using multicolor live imaging.     

Cytoskeleton organisation during the infection of three brown algal species,Ectocarpus siliculosus,Ectocarpus crouaniorum and Pylaiella littoralis,by the intracellular marine oomycete Eurychasma dicksonii

Oomycete diseases in seaweeds are probably widespread and of significant ecological and economic impact, but overall still poorly understood. This study investigates the organisation of the cytoskeleton during infection of three brown algal species, Pylaiella littoralis, Ectocarpus siliculosus, and Ectocarpus crouaniorum, by the basal marine oomycete Eurychasma dicksonii. Immunofluorescence staining of tubulin revealed how the development of this intracellular biotrophic pathogen impacts on microtubule (MT) organisation of its algal host. The host MT cytoskeleton remains normal and organised by the centrosome until very late stages of the infection. Additionally, the organisation of the parasite's cytoskeleton was examined. During mitosis of the E. dicksonii nucleus the MT focal point (microtubule organisation centre, MTOC, putative centrosome) duplicates and each daughter MTOC migrates to opposite poles of the nucleus. This similarity in MT organisation between the host and pathogen reflects the relatively close phylogenetic relationship between oomycetes and brown algae. Moreover, actin labelling with rhodamine‐phalloidin in E. dicksonii revealed typical images of actin dots connected by fine actin filament bundles in the cortical cytoplasm. The functional and phylogenetic implications of our observations are discussed.     

Coordinated process of polarized growth in filamentous fungi

Filamentous fungi are extremely polarized organisms, exhibiting continuous growth at their hyphal tips. The hyphal form is related to their pathogenicity in animals and plants, and their high secretion ability for biotechnology. Polarized growth requires a sequential supply of proteins and lipids to the hyphal tip. This transport is managed by vesicle trafficking via the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Therefore, the arrangement of the cytoskeleton is a crucial step to establish and maintain the cell polarity. This review summarizes recent findings unraveling the mechanism of polarized growth with special emphasis on the role of actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and polarity marker proteins. Rapid insertions of membranes via highly active exocytosis at hyphal tips could quickly dilute the accumulated polarity marker proteins. Recent findings by a super-resolution microscopy indicate that filamentous fungal cells maintain their polarity at the tips by repeating transient assembly and disassembly of polarity sites.     

MACF1 regulates the migration of pyramidal neurons via microtubule dynamics and GSK-3 signaling

Neuronal migration and subsequent differentiation play critical roles for establishing functional neural circuitry in the developing brain. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes are poorly understood. Here, we show that microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) determines neuronal positioning by regulating microtubule dynamics and mediating GSK-3 signaling during brain development. First, using MACF1 floxed allele mice and in utero gene manipulation, we find that MACF1 deletion suppresses migration of cortical pyramidal neurons and results in aberrant neuronal positioning in the developing brain. The cell autonomous deficit in migration is associated with abnormal dynamics of leading processes and centrosomes. Furthermore, microtubule stability is severely damaged in neurons lacking MACF1, resulting in abnormal microtubule dynamics. Finally, MACF1 interacts with and mediates GSK-3 signaling in developing neurons. Our findings establish a cellular mechanism underlying neuronal migration and provide insights into the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics in developing neurons.