biostudies-literatureLiu YJohns Hopkins UniversityNational Institutes of HealthNIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHSjcs264128https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12863306biostudies-literatureUnknown139(1)Cell shape regulation is important for many biological processes. Some cell shape-regulating proteins harbor mechanoresponsive properties that enable them to sense and respond to mechanical cues. In Dictyostelium discoideum, mechanoresponsive network proteins formed by proteins such as myosin II, cortexillin I and IQGAP1 assemble in the cytoplasm into macromolecular complexes, which we term contractility kits (CKs). In our previous studies, we identified the RNA-binding protein RNP1A as a genetic interactor with the cytoskeletal machinery of the cell and as a biochemical interactor of cortexillin I, using in vivo fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy. In this study, we show that Dictyostelium rnp1A knockdown cells have reduced cell proliferation, reduced adhesion, defective cytokinesJournal of cell scienceThe RNA-binding protein RNP1A is essential and interacts with contractility kit proteins to facilitate cell mechanics.PMC12863306R01 GM066817GM66817Liu YRobinson DNAlotaibi ANguyen LTSJacob MACLeng JfalseThe RNA-binding protein RNP1A is essential and interacts with contractility kit proteins to facilitate cell mechanics.Cell shape regulation is important for many biological processes. Some cell shape-regulating proteins harbor mechanoresponsive properties that enable them to sense and respond to mechanical cues. In Dictyostelium discoideum, mechanoresponsive network proteins formed by proteins such as myosin II, cortexillin I and IQGAP1 assemble in the cytoplasm into macromolecular complexes, which we term contractility kits (CKs). In our previous studies, we identified the RNA-binding protein RNP1A as a genetic interactor with the cytoskeletal machinery of the cell and as a biochemical interactor of cortexillin I, using in vivo fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy. In this study, we show that Dictyostelium rnp1A knockdown cells have reduced cell proliferation, reduced adhesion, defective cytokines2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-07-14T20:54:46.419Z2026-06-24T03:04:22.037ZS-EPMC128633064133227710.1242/jcs.264128