Molecular mechanism of Actin.based structures regulation

KUNDA, PATRICIA; BAUM, BUZZ

Bristol

Congreso; The Actin Meeting; 2006

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> Passage through mitosis in animal cells is a highly coordinated event, which involves dramatic changes in cell shape and cytoskeletal organistaion. However, the mechanisms however by which actin is regulated to control changes in cell shape during mitosis and cell division remain unclear. We show that moesin, a molecular link between the plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton, is required for the maintenance of cell form during mitosis and cytokinesis and is important for cell rounding and for the accurate positioning of the furrow. In addition, we have used phospho-specific antibodies in RNAi screens to identify the kinase(s) and phophatases involved in the regulation of Moesin function during interphase and mitosis.Our data suggest that different kinases contribute to Moesin phosphorylation in different phases of the cell cycle and that Moesion phosphorylation is also responsive to cell shape