title: Concentration of cofilin, a small actin-binding protein, at the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis.
abstract: Cofilin is a small actin-binding protein which regulates actin polymerization in a pH-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antibody for cofilin revealed that this protein is temporarily concentrated at the contractile ring during cytokinesis. Cofilin appeared to accumulate rapidly at the contractile ring during late stages of furrowing, and was finally enriched at the midbody. The concentration of cofilin at the contractile ring was observed in several kinds of cultured cells. Furthermore, cofilin introduced into living cells by a microinjection method was also concentrated at the contractile ring. These results suggest that cofilin is involved in actin reorganization during cytokinesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiba University, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obinata
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D008845:Microinjections; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins