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Cited by 5Microtubule and mitosis dynamicsCellular Mechanics and InteractionsProtein Structure and Dynamics

CryoET reveals actin filaments within platelet microtubules

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Tsuji, Chisato, Bradshaw, Marston, Allen, Megan F., Jackson, Molly L., Mantell, Judith, Borucu, Ufuk, Poole, Alastair W., Verkade, Paul +3 more·2024·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-50424-8PMC PMC11252303

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Crosstalk between the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons is important for many cellular processes. Recent studies have shown that microtubules and F-actin can assemble to form a composite structure where F-actin occupies the microtubule lumen. Whether these cytoskeletal hybrids exist in physiological settings and how they are formed is unclear. Here, we show that the short-crossover Class I actin filament previously identified inside microtubules in human HAP1 cells is cofilin-bound F-actin. Lumenal F-actin can be reconstituted in vitro, but cofilin is not essential. Moreover, actin filaments with both cofilin-bound and canonical morphologies reside within human platelet microtubules under physiological conditions. We propose that stress placed upon the microtubule network during motor-driven microtubule looping and sliding may facilitate the incorporation of actin into microtubules.

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  • Extensive decoration of cofilin on actin filaments is consistent with in situ cryo-ET studies that identified fully decorated cofilin-actin filaments at the growth cone of axons, within the lumen of microtubules in Drosophila S2 cells and platelets.

    “This extensive decoration of cofilin on actin filaments is consistent with in situ cryo-ET studies that identified fully decorated cofilin-actin filaments at the growth cone of axons42, within the lumen of microtubules in Drosophila S2 cells and platelets43,44.”

    From Ghost Neuron preparation unlocks high-resolution structural mapping of intracellular architecture in axons (2026) · cites this paper as [43]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Tsuji, C., Bradshaw, M., Allen, M. F., Jackson, M. L., Mantell, J., Borucu, U., Poole, A. W., Verkade, P., Hers, I., Paul, D. M., & Dodding, M. P.
Affiliations
University of Bristol (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Hers, Ingeborg
  • Paul, Danielle M.
  • Dodding, Mark P.
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-07-16
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
5967-5967
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-50424-8
PMC
PMC11252303
OpenAlex
W4400689616
Cited by
5
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1
FWCI
1.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2024-11-28)
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/W005581/1, BB/X017176/1)
  • Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine (N/A)
  • Wellcome Trust (203959/Z/16/Z, 219472/Z/19/Z)
  • British Heart Foundation (FS/20/5/34973, FS/4yPhD/F/20/34125, SP/F/21/150023, PG/21/10760, FS/14/18/3071, FS/IBSRF/23/25156)
  • National Centre for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (N/A)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Structure and Dynamics
Keywords
cofilin, microtubule sliding, HAP1 cells
MeSH terms
Actins, Blood Platelets, Humans, Actin Cytoskeleton, Microtubules, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Actin Depolymerizing Factors

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