Open AccessCross-linkers at growing microtubule ends generate forces that drive actin transport
Author(s) -
Celine Alkemade,
Harmen Wierenga,
Vladimir A. Volkov,
Magdalena Preciado López,
Anna Akhmanova,
Pieter Rein ten Wolde,
Marileen Dogterom,
Gijsje H. Koenderink
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2112799119
Subject(s) - microtubule , cytoskeleton , actin , cell migration , microbiology and biotechnology , motor protein , coupling (piping) , biophysics , molecular motor , chemistry , actin cytoskeleton , actin remodeling , cell , biology , materials science , biochemistry , metallurgy
Significance Complex cellular processes such as cell migration require coordinated remodeling of both the actin and the microtubule cytoskeleton. The two networks for instance exert forces on each other via active motor proteins. Here we show that, surprisingly, coupling via passive cross-linkers can also result in force generation. We specifically study the transport of actin filaments by growing microtubule ends. We show by cell-free reconstitution experiments, computer simulations, and theoretical modeling that this transport is driven by the affinity of the cross-linker for the chemically distinct microtubule tip region. Our work predicts that growing microtubules could potentially rapidly relocate newly nucleated actin filaments to the leading edge of the cell and thus boost migration.