Constriction of the cytokinetic ring, a circular structure of actin filaments, is an essential step during cell division. Mechanical forces driving the constriction are attributed to myosin motor proteins, which slide actin filaments along each other. However, in multiple organisms, ring constriction has been reported to be myosin independent. How actin rings constrict in the absence of motor activity remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that anillin, a non-motor actin crosslinker, indispensable during cytokinesis, autonomously propels the contractility of actin bundles. Anillin generates contractile forces of tens of pico-Newtons to maximise the lengths of overlaps between bundled actin filaments. The contractility is enhanced by actin disassembly. When multiple actin filaments are arranged into a ring, this contractility leads to ring constriction. Our results indicate that passive actin crosslinkers can substitute for the activity of molecular motors to generate contractile forces in a variety of actin networks, including the cytokinetic ring.
- MeSH
- aktiny metabolismus MeSH
- aktomyosin metabolismus MeSH
- buněčné dělení MeSH
- cytokineze MeSH
- Drosophila melanogaster metabolismus MeSH
- kontraktilní proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikrofilamenta metabolismus MeSH
- mikrofilamentové proteiny MeSH
- myosiny metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
γ-Tubulin is essential for microtubule nucleation and also plays less understood roles in nuclear and cell-cycle-related functions. High abundancy of γ-tubulin in acentrosomal Arabidopsis cells facilitated purification and biochemical characterization of large molecular species of γ-tubulin. TEM, fluorescence, and atomic force microscopy of purified high molecular γ-tubulin forms revealed the presence of linear filaments with a double protofilament substructure, filament bundles and aggregates. Filament formation from highly purified γ-tubulin free of γ-tubulin complex proteins (GCPs) was demonstrated for both plant and human γ-tubulin. Moreover, γ-tubulin associated with porcine brain microtubules formed oligomers. Experimental evidence on the intrinsic ability of γ-tubulin to oligomerize/polymerize was supported by conservation of α- and β-tubulin interfaces for longitudinal and lateral interactions for γ-tubulins. STED (stimulated emission depletion) microscopy of Arabidopsis cells revealed fine, short γ-tubulin fibrillar structures enriched on mitotic microtubular arrays that accumulated at polar regions of acentrosomal spindles and the outer nuclear envelope before mitosis, and were also present in nuclei. Fine fibrillar structures of γ-tubulin representing assemblies of higher order were localized in cell-cycle-dependent manner at sites of dispersed γ-tubulin location in acentrosomal plant cells as well as at sites of local γ-tubulin enrichment after drug treatment. Our findings that γ-tubulin preserves the capability of prokaryotic tubulins to self-organize into filaments assembling by lateral interaction into bundles/clusters help understanding of the relationship between structure and multiple cellular functions of this protein species and suggest that besides microtubule nucleation and organization, γ-tubulin may also have scaffolding or sequestration functions.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis chemie genetika MeSH
- cytoskelet chemie genetika MeSH
- mikrofilamenta chemie genetika ultrastruktura MeSH
- mikrotubuly chemie genetika MeSH
- mitóza genetika MeSH
- polymerizace MeSH
- proteinové agregáty genetika MeSH
- proteiny asociované s mikrotubuly chemie genetika MeSH
- tubulin chemie genetika ultrastruktura MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The mechanical properties of microtubules are of great importance for understanding their biological function and for applications in artificial devices. Although microtubule mechanics has been extensively studied both theoretically and experimentally, the relation to its molecular structure is understood only partially. Here, we report on the structural analysis of microtubule vibration modes calculated by an atomistic approach. Molecular dynamics was applied to refine the atomic structure of a microtubule and a C α elastic network model was analyzed for its normal modes. We mapped fluctuations and local deformations up to the level of individual aminoacid residues. The deformation is mode-shape dependent and principally different in α-tubulins and β-tubulins. Parts of the tubulin dimer sequence responding specifically to longitudinal and radial stress are identified. We show that substantial strain within a microtubule is located both in the regions of contact between adjacent dimers and in the body of tubulins. Our results provide supportive evidence for the generally accepted assumption that the mechanics of microtubules, including its anisotropy, is determined by the bonds between tubulins.
- MeSH
- aminokyseliny chemie metabolismus MeSH
- anizotropie MeSH
- konformace proteinů * MeSH
- mechanický stres MeSH
- mikrotubuly chemie metabolismus MeSH
- multimerizace proteinu MeSH
- sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky * MeSH
- tubulin chemie metabolismus MeSH
- vibrace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The knowledge of mechanisms underlying interactions between biological systems, be they biomacromolecules or living cells, is crucial for understanding physiology, as well as for possible prevention, diagnostics and therapy of pathological states. Apart from known chemical and direct contact electrical signaling pathways, electromagnetic phenomena were proposed by some authors to mediate non-chemical interactions on both intracellular and intercellular levels. Here, we discuss perspectives in the research of nanoscale electromagnetic interactions between biosystems on radiofrequency and microwave wavelengths. Based on our analysis, the main perspectives are in (i) the micro and nanoscale characterization of both passive and active radiofrequency properties of biomacromolecules and cells, (ii) experimental determination of viscous damping of biomacromolecule structural vibrations and (iii) detailed analysis of energetic circumstances of electromagnetic interactions between oscillating polar biomacromolecules. Current cutting-edge nanotechnology and computational techniques start to enable such studies so we can expect new interesting insights into electromagnetic aspects of molecular biophysics of cell signaling.
- MeSH
- makromolekulární látky metabolismus MeSH
- mikrovlny * MeSH
- radiobiologie metody MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
In this mini-review, we summarize the current hypotheses, theories and experimental evidence concerning the electromagnetic activity of living cells. We systematically classify the bio-electromagnetic phenomena in terms of frequency and we assess their general acceptance in scientific community. We show that the electromagnetic activity of cells is well established in the low frequency range below 1 kHz and on optical wavelengths, while there is only limited evidence for bio-electromagnetic processes in radio- frequency and millimeter-wave ranges. This lack of generally accepted theory or trustful experimental results is the cause for controversy which accompanies this topic. We conclude our review with the discussion of the relevance of the electromagnetic activity of cells to human medicine.
- MeSH
- buňky * MeSH
- elektromagnetická pole * MeSH
- kvantová teorie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- luminiscence MeSH
- spektrální analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Věda kolem nás. Výzvy a otázky ; 13
Vyd. 1. 16 s. : il. ; 21 cm
Existují vědecké důkazy, pozorování či alespoň relevantní předpoklady o biologickém elektromagnetismu, anebo jen představy elektromagnetických interakcí v biologii vytvářejí silný a atraktivní příběh? Či snad platí oboje? Pracovníci Ústavu fotoniky a elektroniky AV ČR zabývající se bioelektrodynamikou (zahrnuje radioelektroniku a fotoniku s přesahem do biofyziky, fyzikální chemie a molekulární biologie) se věnují mechanismům generace vysokofrekvenčních elektromagnetických biosignálů, porozumění jejich roli v buněčné fyziologii a studiu jejich využitelnosti v medicínské diagnostice. Další oblastí výzkumu je elektromagnetická charakterizace biologických materiálů, především supramolekulárních struktur.. Nakladatelská anotace
- Konspekt
- Biochemie. Molekulární biologie. Biofyzika
- NLK Obory
- fyzika, biofyzika
- NLK Publikační typ
- brožury
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
The regulation of chromosome separation during mitosis is not fully understood yet. Microtubules forming mitotic spindles are targets of treatment strategies which are aimed at (i) the triggering of the apoptosis or (ii) the interruption of uncontrolled cell division. Despite these facts, only few physical models relating to the dynamics of mitotic spindles exist up to now. In this paper, we present the first electromechanical model which enables calculation of the electromagnetic field coupled to acoustic vibrations of the mitotic spindle. This electromagnetic field originates from the electrical polarity of microtubules which form the mitotic spindle. The model is based on the approximation of resonantly vibrating microtubules by a network of oscillating electric dipoles. Our computational results predict the existence of a rapidly changing electric field which is generated by either driven or endogenous vibrations of the mitotic spindle. For certain values of parameters, the intensity of the electric field and its gradient reach values which may exert a not-inconsiderable force on chromosomes which are aligned in the spindle midzone. Our model may describe possible mechanisms of the effects of ultra-short electrical and mechanical pulses on dividing cells--a strategy used in novel methods for cancer treatment.
Despite the large number of reports attributing the signaling between detached cell cultures to the electromagnetic phenomena, almost no report so far included a rigorous analysis of the possibility of such signaling.In this paper, we examine the physical feasibility of the electromagnetic communication between cells, especially through light, with regard to the ambient noise illumination. We compare theoretically attainable parameters of communication with experimentally obtained data of the photon emission from cells without a specially pronounced ability of bioluminescence.We show that the weak intensity of the emission together with an unfavorable signal-to-noise ratio, which is typical for natural conditions, represent an important obstacle to the signal detection by cells.
Physical processes in living cells were not taken into consideration among the essentials of biological activity, regardless of the fact that they establish a state far from thermodynamic equilibrium. In biological system chemical energy is transformed into the work of physical forces for various biological functions. The energy transformation pathway is very likely connected with generation of the endogenous electrodynamic field as suggested by experimentally proved electrodynamic activity of biological systems connected with mitochondrial and microtubule functions. Besides production of ATP and GTP (adenosine and guanosine triphosphate) mitochondria form a proton space charge layer,
- MeSH
- adenosintrifosfát metabolismus MeSH
- apoptóza fyziologie genetika imunologie MeSH
- biomedicínský výzkum metody trendy MeSH
- elektromagnetická pole škodlivé účinky MeSH
- financování organizované MeSH
- fyziologie buňky fyziologie genetika imunologie MeSH
- glykolýza fyziologie genetika imunologie MeSH
- guanosintrifosfát metabolismus MeSH
- kyselina dichloroctová aplikace a dávkování škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikrotubuly fyziologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- mitochondrie fyziologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- nádorová transformace buněk genetika imunologie účinky léků MeSH
- nádory etiologie metabolismus terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
