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      The actin cortex at a glance

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          ABSTRACT

          Precisely controlled cell deformations are key to cell migration, division and tissue morphogenesis, and have been implicated in cell differentiation during development, as well as cancer progression. In animal cells, shape changes are primarily driven by the cellular cortex, a thin actomyosin network that lies directly underneath the plasma membrane. Myosin-generated forces create tension in the cortical network, and gradients in tension lead to cellular deformations. Recent studies have provided important insight into the molecular control of cortical tension by progressively unveiling cortex composition and organization. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we review our current understanding of cortex composition and architecture. We then discuss how the microscopic properties of the cortex control cortical tension. While many open questions remain, it is now clear that cortical tension can be modulated through both cortex composition and organization, providing multiple levels of regulation for this key cellular property during cell and tissue morphogenesis.

          Abstract

          Summary: A summary of the composition, architecture, mechanics and function of the cellular actin cortex, which determines the shape of animal cells, and, thus, provides the foundation for cell and tissue morphogenesis.

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          Non-muscle myosin II takes centre stage in cell adhesion and migration.

          Non-muscle myosin II (NM II) is an actin-binding protein that has actin cross-linking and contractile properties and is regulated by the phosphorylation of its light and heavy chains. The three mammalian NM II isoforms have both overlapping and unique properties. Owing to its position downstream of convergent signalling pathways, NM II is central in the control of cell adhesion, cell migration and tissue architecture. Recent insight into the role of NM II in these processes has been gained from loss-of-function and mutant approaches, methods that quantitatively measure actin and adhesion dynamics and the discovery of NM II mutations that cause monogenic diseases.
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            ERM proteins and merlin: integrators at the cell cortex.

            A fundamental property of many plasma-membrane proteins is their association with the underlying cytoskeleton to determine cell shape, and to participate in adhesion, motility and other plasma-membrane processes, including endocytosis and exocytosis. The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are crucial components that provide a regulated linkage between membrane proteins and the cortical cytoskeleton, and also participate in signal-transduction pathways. The closely related tumour suppressor merlin shares many properties with ERM proteins, yet also provides a distinct and essential function.
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              Micropipette aspiration of living cells

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                J Cell Sci
                J. Cell. Sci
                JCS
                joces
                Journal of Cell Science
                The Company of Biologists Ltd
                0021-9533
                1477-9137
                15 July 2018
                19 July 2018
                19 July 2018
                : 131
                : 14
                : jcs186254
                Affiliations
                [1 ]MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London , London WC1E 6BT, UK
                [2 ]Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London , London WC1E 6BT, UK
                [3 ]Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
                Author notes
                Author information
                http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5378-5874
                http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4691-2323
                Article
                JCS186254
                10.1242/jcs.186254
                6080608
                30026344
                a9d7a3d0-2fc0-423d-a361-ac12fe049584
                © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed.

                History
                Funding
                Funded by: Medical Research Council, http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007155;
                Award ID: MC_UU_12018/5
                Funded by: European Research Council, http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010663;
                Award ID: 311637-MorphoCorDiv
                Categories
                Cell Science at A Glance

                Cell biology
                actin,cell shape,cellular cortex,contractility,mechanics
                Cell biology
                actin, cell shape, cellular cortex, contractility, mechanics

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