93 research outputs found
Actomyosin contractility controls cell surface area of oligodendrocytes
No full textAbstract Background To form myelin oligodendrocytes expand and wrap their plasma membrane multiple times around an axon. How is this expansion controlled? Results Here we show that cell surface area depends on actomyosin contractility and is regulated by physical properties of the supporting matrix. Moreover, we find that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG), molecules associated with non-permissive growth properties within the central nervous system (CNS), block cell surface spreading. Most importantly, the inhibitory effects of CSPG on plasma membrane extension were completely prevented by treatment with inhibitors of actomyosin contractility and by RNAi mediated knockdown of myosin II. In addition, we found that reductions of plasma membrane area were accompanied by changes in the rate of fluid-phase endocytosis. Conclusion In summary, our results establish a novel connection between endocytosis, cell surface extension and actomyosin contractility. These findings open up new possibilities of how to promote the morphological differentiation of oligodendrocytes in a non-permissive growth environment. See related minireview by Bauer and ffrench-Constant: http://www.jbiol.com/content/8/8/78</p
A “Force Buffer” protecting immunoglobulin titin.
No full textThe adventures of titin: in vertebrates, titin filaments control the extendibility of the muscle sarcomere. The titin immunoglobulin 27 unfolds through an intermediate (see structure; arrow: hydrogen bonds ruptured to reach intermediate) that it is highly independent of the force load applied. It is shown that this intermediate acts as a “force buffer” that protects immunoglobulin from unfolding at physiologically applied forces
Fables en Images
No full textThe cover of this oversized (almost 12 x 15½) book shows FC, along with the text for this fable. Inside this cover there are twenty-three posters or broadsides. The little binding that there was in this supersized pamphlet is now gone, along with the staples; the pages are loose. The covers are wrapped in clear plastic. Fables are taken from La Fontaine, Florian, and one unnamed source. The broadside itself uses three stars for the latter; perhaps the seller refers to this author when he speaks of a third author named Richer, whom I cannot otherwise find. A common feature of these pages is the pair of headings: Imagerie Pellerin on the left and Imagerie d'Epinal on the right, followed by various numbers. I can find no repeats from other posters I have found from Pellerin d'Epinal. The colors are, as always from this publisher, vivid. The best of the broadsides here include Le Lièvre & les Grenouilles, especially for its lively colors; FG/BF for its dressed animals and birds; and WC/DLS, for its careful work representing dressed animals. The spread of artistic styles here is quite broad. This is a frail treasure!Language note: FrenchTranslated by Dorothy E. Jonne
Quantifying cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix components by single-cell force spectroscopy
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