The multi-faceted role of the actin cap in cellular mechanosensation and mechanotransduction.

The perinuclear actin cap (or actin cap) is a recently characterized cytoskeletal organelle composed of thick, parallel, and highly contractile acto-myosin filaments that are specifically anchored to the apical surface of the interphase nucleus. The actin cap is present in a wide range of adherent eukaryotic cells, but is disrupted in several human diseases, including laminopathies and cancer. Through its large terminating focal adhesions and anchorage to the nuclear lamina and nuclear envelope through LINC complexes, the perinuclear actin cap plays a critical role both in mechanosensation and mechanotransduction, the ability of cells to sense changes in matrix compliance and to respond to mechanical forces, respectively.

Citation

Dong-Hwee Kim, Allison B Chambliss, Denis Wirtz. The multi-faceted role of the actin cap in cellular mechanosensation and mechanotransduction. Soft matter. 2013 Jun 21;9(23):5516-5523

PMID: 23930135

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