Symmetry breaking in reconstituted actin cortices

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Symmetry breaking in reconstituted actin cortices Enas Abu Shah1* and Kinneret Keren1 1 Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Israel The actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in many cellular processes. In particular, the dynamic actin cortex plays a pivotal role in cell division, in polarity, in motility and in the immune response. In all these contexts, the cortical actin network has to break symmetry to generate polar cytoskeletal dynamics. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms responsible for regulating cortical dynamics in vivo and inducing symmetry breaking are still unclear. We developed a reconstituted model system that self organizes into dynamic actin cortices at the inner interface of water-in-oil emulsions. This artificial system undergoes spontaneous symmetry breaking, driven by myosin-induced cortical actin flows, which appear remarkably similar to the cortical flows involved in T-cell receptor organization in the immunological synapse. The contractile behaviour of the reconstituted cortices exhibits a sharp temperature-dependent transition, facilitating the use of temperature as an external parameter to control the onset of symmetry breaking. The reconstituted cortices further display occasional local detachment of the contractile actin network from the interface as seen in cellular blebs, and polar force generation, which can lead to deformation of the interface. Our in vitro model system recapitulates the rich dynamics seen in actin cortices in vivo, allowing us to reveal the basic requirements for actin cortex formation and symmetry breaking. Moreover, this synthetic system paves the way for further exploration of artificial cells towards the realization of a minimal model system of the immunological synapse that can shed light on the mechanisms underlying the diverse cellular responses following T-cell activation. Keywords: symmetry breaking, actin cortex, Artificial Cells, cytoskeletal dynamics, Immunological Synapses Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Immune receptors and signaling Citation: Abu Shah E and Keren K (2013). Symmetry breaking in reconstituted actin cortices. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.01001 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 10 Jul 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Ms. Enas Abu Shah, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, enasa@techunix.technion.ac.il Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Enas Abu Shah Kinneret Keren Google Enas Abu Shah Kinneret Keren Google Scholar Enas Abu Shah Kinneret Keren PubMed Enas Abu Shah Kinneret Keren Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.