Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: The crosstalk between microtubules and actin is essential for cellular functions. However, mechanisms underlying the microtubule-actin organization by cross-linkers remain largely unexplored. Here, we report that tau, a neuronal microtubule-associated protein, binds to microtubules and actin simultaneously, promoting in vitro co-organization and coupled growth of both networks. By developing an original assay to visualize concomitant microtubule and actin assembly, we show that tau can induce guided polymerization of actin filaments along microtubule tracks and growth of single microtubules along actin filament bundles. Importantly, tau mediates microtubule-actin co-alignment without changing polymer growth properties. Mutagenesis studies further reveal that at least two of the four tau repeated motifs, primarily identified as tubulin-binding sites, are required to connect microtubules and actin. Tau thus represents a molecular linker between microtubule and actin networks, enabling a coordination of the two cytoskeletons that might be essential in various neuronal contexts.
Source: Scientific Reports
DOI: 10.1038/srep09964
Institutions: Inserm, Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences, Université Grenoble Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Joseph Fourier, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, CEA Grenoble, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,256
Award: G335762113
OpenAlex ID: W1803223003