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Beads, bacteria and actin

Article Abstract:

Polycationic beads are able to cause actin filament bundles, called inductopodia, to come together within the cells. This finding by P. Forscher and colleagues is an important step in determining the motility of actin on the cell surface. Two kinds of movement have been detected: a retrograde or backward motility and a newly discovered motility that is combined with the inductopodia's assembly. In addition, Forscher and another group have found that the motility of some infectious bacteria such as Listeria resembles the beads' motility on the cell surface.

Bacteria, Cells, Cell membranes, Plasma membranes, Cell migration, Bacterial motility

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Reconstitution of actin-based motility of Listeria and Shigella using pure proteins

Article Abstract:

Actin polymerization is required for cell locomotion. Listeria and Shigella bacteria bypass the signalling pathway, harnessing Arp2/3 complex, and inducing actin assembly. Sustained movement in Listeria and Shigella was reconstituted using pure components of the actin cytoskeleton. The free energy released by ATP hydrolysis linked to actin polymerization drives actin-based propulsion.

Polymerization, Shigella, Listeria

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Cofilin promotes rapid actin filament turnover in vivo

Article Abstract:

Genetics and an actin-inhibitor in yeast were used to show that rapid assembly and disassembly cycles of actin, rely on cofilin, a small actin-binding protein. Dissembly defects in cofilin mutants in vivo were closely linked to defects seen in vitro. The results could explain why cofilin is necessary for viability in organisms in which its genetic functions have been tested.

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, Plant Genetics, Usage, Genetics

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