Berlin 2012 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 23: Cytoskeletal Filaments

BP 23.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 29, 2012, 15:00–15:30, H 1028

Actin network architecture determines myosin motor activity — •Laurent Blanchoin — CNRS & UJF, Grenoble, France

The organization of actin filaments into higher-ordered structures governs overall eukaryotic cell shape, mechanical integrity and directed movement. Global actin network size and architecture is maintained in a dynamic steady-state through regulated assembly and disassembly. We use geometrically controlled and polarized in vitro actin structures to evaluate how myosin motors, that play a critical role in this process, influences network architecture. Direct visualization of filaments demonstrates the spectacular myosin-induced actin network deformation. We determine that during this reorganization myosins selectively contract and disassemble anti-parallel actin structures while parallel actin bundles remain unaffected. This orientation selection reveals how the spatial organization and dynamics of the cellular actin cytoskeleton is locally controlled by actomyosin contractility.