Complementary mesoscale dynamics of spectrin and acto-myosin shape membrane territories during mechanoresponse.

ABSTRACT: The spectrin-based membrane skeleton is a major component of the cell cortex. While expressed by all metazoans, its dynamic interactions with the other cortex components, including the plasma membrane or the acto-myosin cytoskeleton, are poorly understood. Here, we investigate how spectrin re-organizes spatially and dynamically under the membrane during changes in cell mechanics. We find spectrin and acto-myosin to be spatially distinct but cooperating during mechanical challenges, such as cell adhesion and contraction, or compression, stretch and osmolarity fluctuations, creating a cohesive cortex supporting the plasma membrane. Actin territories control protrusions and contractile structures while spectrin territories concentrate in retractile zones and low-actin density/inter-contractil

SUBMITTER: Ghisleni A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7547731 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature