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Self-assembly of the contractile system in nonmuscle cells
Tatyana Svitkina - University of Pennsylvania
Monday, April 4, 2016, 4:00-5:00 pm Calendar
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Abstract

Conventional class II myosins are universally responsible for generation of contractile forces in cells. A unique feature of myosin II is an ability to polymerize into bipolar filaments, which can pull on multiple actin filaments in opposite directions. Muscle-specific myosin II is essential for muscle contraction, whereas nonmuscle myosin II plays central roles in virtually all cell types for cell adhesion, migration, cytokinesis, and tissue morphogenesis. In contrast to a highly ordered and stable sarcomeric pattern of actin and myosin II filaments in striated muscle, the contractile system in nonmuscle cells undergoes constant remodeling. A key element of this dynamic behavior is an ability of nonmuscle myosin II to undergo cycles of activation-inactivation and polymerization-depolymerization, which are governed by complex regulation. Existence of different nonmuscle myosin II paralogs that copolymerize with each other in cells makes the remodeling of the contractile system in nonmuscle cells even more complex. Our recent insights into mechanisms of contractile system assembly and remodeling will be presented.

This talk is organized by Star Jackson