Triggering a Cell Shape Change by Exploiting Preexisting Actomyosin Contractions.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Triggering a Cell Shape Change by Exploiting Preexisting Actomyosin Contractions.
Authors:	Roh-Johnson, Minna, Shemer, Gidi, Higgins, Christopher D., McClellan, Joseph H., Werts, Adam D., Tulu, U. Serdar, Liang Gao, Betzig, Eric, Kiehart, Daniel P., Goldstein, Bob
Source:	Science (pre-March 2025). 3/9/2012, Vol. 335 Issue 6073, p1232-1235. 4p.
Subjects:	Cytological research, Cell morphology, Actomyosin, Contractility (Biology), Cytoskeletal proteins, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila
Abstract:	Apical constriction changes cell shapes, driving critical morphogenetic events, including gastrulation in diverse organisms and neural tube closure in vertebrates. Apical constriction is thought to be triggered by contraction of apical actomyosin networks. We found that apical actomyosin contractions began before cell shape changes in both Caenorhabitis elegans and Drosophila. In C. elegans, actomyosin networks were initially dynamic, contracting and generating cortical tension without substantial shrinking of apical surfaces. Apical cell-cell contact zones and actomyosin only later moved increasingly in concert, with no detectable change in actomyosin dynamics or cortical tension. Thus, apical constriction appears to be triggered not by a change in cortical tension, but by dynamic linking of apical cell-cell contact zones to an already contractile apical cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Science (pre-March 2025) is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	Apical constriction changes cell shapes, driving critical morphogenetic events, including gastrulation in diverse organisms and neural tube closure in vertebrates. Apical constriction is thought to be triggered by contraction of apical actomyosin networks. We found that apical actomyosin contractions began before cell shape changes in both Caenorhabitis elegans and Drosophila. In C. elegans, actomyosin networks were initially dynamic, contracting and generating cortical tension without substantial shrinking of apical surfaces. Apical cell-cell contact zones and actomyosin only later moved increasingly in concert, with no detectable change in actomyosin dynamics or cortical tension. Thus, apical constriction appears to be triggered not by a change in cortical tension, but by dynamic linking of apical cell-cell contact zones to an already contractile apical cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00368075
DOI:	10.1126/science.1217869