title: Actin-microtubule coordination at growing microtubule ends.
abstract: To power dynamic processes in cells, the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons organize into complex structures. Although it is known that cytoskeletal coordination is vital for cell function, the mechanisms by which cross-linking proteins coordinate actin and microtubule activities remain poorly understood. In particular, it is unknown how the distinct mechanical properties of different actin architectures modulate the outcome of actin-microtubule interactions. To address this question, we engineered the protein TipAct, which links growing microtubule ends via end-binding proteins to actin filaments. We show that growing microtubules can be captured and guided by stiff actin bundles, leading to global actin-microtubule alignment. Conversely, growing microtubule ends can transport, stretch and bundle individual actin filaments, thereby globally defining actin filament organization. Our results provide a physical basis to understand actin-microtubule cross-talk, and reveal that a simple cross-linker can enable a mechanical feedback between actin and microtubule organization that is relevant to diverse biological contexts.
authors.affiliation: FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preciado López
authors.affiliation: FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grigoriev
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michel O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhmanova
authors.affiliation: FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gijsje H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koenderink
authors.affiliation: 1] FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands [2].
authors.forename: Marileen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dogterom
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D036681:Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins