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Cellular Structural Biology

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 8785

Special Issue Editor

ALBA Synchrotron Light Source, Carrer de la Llum 2–26, 08290 Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
Interests: virology; structural and cellular biology; cryo soft X-ray tomography

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The possibility of describing a complete and intact cell with sufficient resolution so as to define its structural components in a fully quantitative way is a major goal in life sciences, with obvious impact on health and on the design of new biomaterials.

In this context, cryo-soft X-ray tomography represents an interesting technique to retrieve information at nanometer resolution, covering full cellular volumes near to native state. Indeed, the high resolution of this technique allows the visualization of the structural organization of cells, their membranes, compartments, organelles and supramolecular assemblies, which makes this method one of the most exciting alternatives to image complete biological cells.

To reflect these advances, the International Journal of Molecular Sciences has designed a Special Issue that is accepting contributions with an emphasis on biophysics, imaging and structural biology, and their integration to provide a view of the cell at multiple scales.

Dr. Ana Joaquina Perez-Berna
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.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

Keywords

  • virology
  • structural biology
  • cellular biology
  • cellular infection
  • cellular genetic disease
  • cryo-soft X-ray tomography
  • correlative visible light
  • cancer cells
  • nanoparticles
  • cellular therapy
  • cellular differentiation
  • gene-editing monitoring

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1956 KiB  
Article
The Capillary Morphogenesis Gene 2 Triggers the Intracellular Hallmarks of Collagen VI-Related Muscular Dystrophy
by Enrico Castroflorio, Ana Joaquina Pérez Berná, Arístides López-Márquez, Carmen Badosa, Pablo Loza-Alvarez, Mónica Roldán and Cecilia Jiménez-Mallebrera
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7651; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23147651 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2682
Abstract
Collagen VI-related disorders (COL6-RD) represent a severe form of congenital disease for which there is no treatment. Dominant-negative pathogenic variants in the genes encoding α chains of collagen VI are the main cause of COL6-RD. Here we report that patient-derived fibroblasts carrying a [...] Read more.
Collagen VI-related disorders (COL6-RD) represent a severe form of congenital disease for which there is no treatment. Dominant-negative pathogenic variants in the genes encoding α chains of collagen VI are the main cause of COL6-RD. Here we report that patient-derived fibroblasts carrying a common single nucleotide variant mutation are unable to build the extracellular collagen VI network. This correlates with the intracellular accumulation of endosomes and lysosomes triggered by the increased phosphorylation of the collagen VI receptor CMG2. Notably, using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool to silence the dominant-negative mutation in patients’ cells, we rescued the normal extracellular collagen VI network, CMG2 phosphorylation levels, and the accumulation of endosomes and lysosomes. Our findings reveal an unanticipated role of CMG2 in regulating endosomal and lysosomal homeostasis and suggest that mutated collagen VI dysregulates the intracellular environment in fibroblasts in collagen VI-related muscular dystrophy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Structural Biology)
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17 pages, 3158 KiB  
Article
The Role of Cytoskeletal Proteins in the Formation of a Functional In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Model
by Shireen Mentor, Khayelihle Brian Makhathini and David Fisher
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(2), 742; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23020742 - 11 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1668
Abstract
The brain capillary endothelium is highly regulatory, maintaining the chemical stability of the brain’s microenvironment. The role of cytoskeletal proteins in tethering nanotubules (TENTs) during barrier-genesis was investigated using the established immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEnd5) as an in vitro blood-brain [...] Read more.
The brain capillary endothelium is highly regulatory, maintaining the chemical stability of the brain’s microenvironment. The role of cytoskeletal proteins in tethering nanotubules (TENTs) during barrier-genesis was investigated using the established immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEnd5) as an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. The morphology of bEnd5 cells was evaluated using both high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence to evaluate treatment with depolymerizing agents Cytochalasin D for F-actin filaments and Nocodazole for α-tubulin microtubules. The effects of the depolymerizing agents were investigated on bEnd5 monolayer permeability by measuring the transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). The data endorsed that during barrier-genesis, F-actin and α-tubulin play a cytoarchitectural role in providing both cell shape dynamics and cytoskeletal structure to TENTs forming across the paracellular space to provide cell-cell engagement. Western blot analysis of the treatments suggested a reduced expression of both proteins, coinciding with a reduction in the rates of cellular proliferation and decreased TEER. The findings endorsed that TENTs provide alignment of the paracellular (PC) spaces and tight junction (TJ) zones to occlude bEnd5 PC spaces. The identification of specific cytoskeletal structures in TENTs endorsed the postulate of their indispensable role in barrier-genesis and the maintenance of regulatory permeability across the BBB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Structural Biology)
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14 pages, 3252 KiB  
Article
Centrosome, the Newly Identified Passenger through Tunneling Nanotubes, Increases Binucleation and Proliferation Marker in Receiving Cells
by Fatéméh Dubois, Ludovic Galas, Nicolas Elie, Frank Le Foll, Céline Bazille, Emmanuel Bergot and Guénaëlle Levallet
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 9680; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22189680 - 07 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2243
Abstract
Type 1 tunneling nanotubes (TNTs-1) are long, cytoplasmic protrusions containing actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments that provide a bi-directional road for the transport of various components between distant cells. TNT-1 formation is accompanied by dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization offering mechanical support for intercellular communication. [...] Read more.
Type 1 tunneling nanotubes (TNTs-1) are long, cytoplasmic protrusions containing actin, microtubules and intermediate filaments that provide a bi-directional road for the transport of various components between distant cells. TNT-1 formation is accompanied by dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization offering mechanical support for intercellular communication. Although the centrosome is the major microtubule nucleating center and also a signaling hub, the relationship between the centrosome and TNTs-1 is still unexplored. We provide here the first evidence of centrosome localization and orientation towards the TNTs-1 protrusion site, which is implicated in TNT-1 formation. We also envision a model whereby synchronized reorientation of the Golgi apparatus along with the centrosome towards TNTs-1 ensures effective polarized trafficking through TNTs-1. Furthermore, using immunohistochemistry and live imaging, we observed for the first time the movement of an extra centrosome within TNTs-1. In this regard, we hypothesize a novel role for TNTs-1 as a critical pathway serving to displace extra centrosomes and potentially to either protect malignant cells against aberrant centrosome amplification or contribute to altering cells in the tumor environment. Indeed, we have observed the increase in binucleation and proliferation markers in receiving cells. The fact that the centrosome can be both as the base and the user of TNTs-1 offers new perspectives and new opportunities to follow in order to improve our knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms under TNT control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Structural Biology)
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Review

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16 pages, 2485 KiB  
Review
The Ism between Endothelial Cilia and Endothelial Nanotubules Is an Evolving Concept in the Genesis of the BBB
by Shireen Mentor and David Fisher
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2457; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23052457 - 23 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1656
Abstract
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is fundamental in maintaining central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis by regulating the chemical environment of the underlying brain parenchyma. Brain endothelial cells (BECs) constitute the anatomical and functional basis of the BBB. Communication between adjacent BECs is critical for [...] Read more.
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is fundamental in maintaining central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis by regulating the chemical environment of the underlying brain parenchyma. Brain endothelial cells (BECs) constitute the anatomical and functional basis of the BBB. Communication between adjacent BECs is critical for establishing BBB integrity, and knowledge of its nanoscopic landscape will contribute to our understanding of how juxtaposed zones of tight-junction protein interactions between BECs are aligned. The review discusses and critiques types of nanostructures contributing to the process of BBB genesis. We further critically evaluate earlier findings in light of novel high-resolution electron microscopy descriptions of nanoscopic tubules. One such phenotypic structure is BEC cytoplasmic projections, which, early in the literature, is postulated as brain capillary endothelial cilia, and is evaluated and compared to the recently discovered nanotubules (NTs) formed in the paracellular spaces between BECs during barrier-genesis. The review attempts to elucidate a myriad of unique topographical ultrastructures that have been reported to be associated with the development of the BBB, viz., structures ranging from cilia to BEC tunneling nanotubules (TUNTs) and BEC tethering nanotubules (TENTs). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Structural Biology)
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