Reconstitution of actomyosin networks in cell-sized liposomes dissects distinct mechanisms of membrane blebbing and symmetry breaking
Abstract
The actin cortex, a thin layer of actomyosin network beneath the plasma membrane, regulates various cell functions by generating active forces and inducing membrane deformations, including blebs. Although upstream signaling is involved in regulating cell shape, the extent to which downstream actomyosin molecules can control the shape remains elusive. Here, using a minimal reconstituted system combined with an agent-based computational model, we show that actin-membrane coupling strength determines the magnitude of membrane deformation, while its balance with actin network connectivity governs the bleb initiation mechanism, either by detachment of the cortex from the membrane or by rupture of the cortex. This balance also modulates single versus multiple bleb formation, thereby regulating symmetry breaking. Furthermore, our results suggest that not only the dense cortical network but also the sparse volume-spanning network actively contributes to the regulation of bleb number. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how cells tune actin network organization to control their shape and polarity.
Read the paper
Related studies
- A Survey on Knowledge Graphs: Representation, Acquisition, and Applications
- Toxicity of nanomaterials
- The Human Gene Mutation Database: towards a comprehensive repository of inherited mutation data for medical research, genetic diagnosis and next-generation sequencing studies
- Halogen bonding (X‐bonding): A biological perspective
- Biofilm formation at the air–liquid interface by the Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 wrinkly spreader requires an acetylated form of cellulose
- Opioid Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Drug Reinforcement
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.