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Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second edition of Actin–Myosin Cytoskeleton Regulation and Function that previously published 16 papers.

The actin–myosin cytoskeleton is an extensive protein network that undergoes reorganization in response to extracellular chemical and mechanical stimuli, thereby determining cell shape, acting as a load-bearing structure, and contributing to transducing signals from outside to inside. The dynamic nature of actin–myosin cytoskeleton structures means that they make essential contributions to many cellular functions, including cell division, migration, endocytosis, intracellular transport, gene transcription, and the formation of specialized structures, such as filopodia and lamellipodia. Due to the myriad processes that are directly or indirectly influenced by the actin–myosin cytoskeleton, aberrations in its regulation play a significant role in many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, fibrosis, and cardiovascular disease.

For this Special Issue of Cells, we invite authors to submit contributions, in the form of original research articles, reviews, or shorter perspective articles, on all aspects related to the theme of “Actin–Myosin Cytoskeleton Regulation and Function”. Articles with mechanistic and functional insights from cell and molecular biological, biophysical, biochemical, structural and mathematical perspectives are especially welcome. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Regulators of the actin–myosin cytoskeleton;
Cytoskeleton-mediated mechanotransduction;
Actin–myosin cytoskeleton dysregulation in human disease;
Disease-associated genetic mutations in actin–myosin cytoskeleton components and regulators;
Organelle trafficking and positioning by the actin–myosin cytoskeleton;
Actin–myosin structures in cell motility;
The role of the actin–myosin cytoskeleton in endocytosis and intracellular trafficking.

Prof. Dr. Michael F. Olson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (1 paper)

Research

17 pages, 3271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cell Surface Vibrations Distinguish Malignant from Benign Cells

by Ishay Wohl, Julia Sajman and Eilon Sherman

Cells 2023, 12(14), 1901; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cells12141901 - 21 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1026

Abstract

The mechanical properties of living cells, including their shape, rigidity, and internal dynamics play a crucial role in their physiology and pathology. Still, the relations between the physiological cell state and its rigidity and surface vibrations remain poorly understood. Here, we have employed AFM measurements on T cells and found a negative relation between cell surface stiffness and its vibrations. Blocking T-type Ca⁺⁺-channels using Mibefradil reduced cortical actin tension in these cells and enhanced their membrane vibrations and dissipation of intracellular mechanical work to the cell surroundings. We also found increased vibrations of cell membranes in five different malignant cells lines derived from T cell leukemia, lung, prostate, bladder, and melanoma cancers, as compared to their corresponding benign cells. This was demonstrated by utilizing TIRF microscopy in single cells and dynamic laser speckles measurements in an in vitro model of multiple cells in a tissue. Our results show that cell membrane vibrations and dissipation of mechanical work are higher in malignant cells relative to benign cells. Accordingly, these properties may be used to detect and monitor cellular and tissue malignancies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Actin-Myosin Cytoskeleton Regulation and Function Series 2)

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