3D printing cytoskeletal networks: ROS-induced filament severing leads to surge in actin polymerization.

ABSTRACT: The cytoskeletal protein actin forms a spatially organized biopolymer network that plays a central role in many cellular processes. Actin filaments continuously assemble and disassemble, enabling cells to rapidly reorganize their cytoskeleton. Filament severing accelerates actin turnover, as both polymerization and depolymerization rates depend on the number of free filament ends. Here, we use light to control actin severing in vitro by locally generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) with photosensitive molecules such as fluorophores. We see that ROS sever actin filaments, which increases actin polymerization in our experiments. However, beyond a certain threshold, excessive severing leads to the disassembly of actin networks, allowing us to selectively remove actin structures. Our experi

SUBMITTER: Litschel T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11957145 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature