The ultrastructural organization of actin and myosin II filaments in the contractile ring: new support for an old model of cytokinesis.

ABSTRACT: Despite recent advances in our understanding of the components and spatial regulation of the contractile ring (CR), the precise ultrastructure of actin and myosin II within the animal cell CR remains an unanswered question. We used superresolution light microscopy and platinum replica transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the structural organization of actin and myosin II in isolated cortical cytoskeletons prepared from dividing sea urchin embryos. Three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy indicated that within the CR, actin and myosin II filaments were organized into tightly packed linear arrays oriented along the axis of constriction and restricted to a narrow zone within the furrow. In contrast, myosin II filaments in earlier stages of cytokinesis were organized

SUBMITTER: Henson JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5328620 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature