The actin cortex is a thin layer of actin, myosin and actin-binding proteins that underlies the membrane of most animal cells. It is highly dynamic and can undergo remodelling on timescales of tens of seconds, thanks to protein turnover and myosin-mediated contractions. The cortex enables cells to resist external mechanical stresses, controls cell shape and allows cells to exert forces on their neighbours. Thus, its mechanical properties are the key to its physiological function. Here, we give an overview of how cortex composition, structure and dynamics control cortex mechanics and cell shape. We use mitosis as an example to illustrate how global and local regulation of cortex mechanics gives rise to a complex series of cell shape changes.

肌动蛋白皮层是肌动蛋白，肌球蛋白和肌动蛋白结合蛋白的薄层，是大多数动物细胞膜的基础。它具有很高的动态性，并且由于蛋白质更新和肌球蛋白介导的收缩，可以在数十秒的时间尺度上进行重构。皮质使细胞能够抵抗外部机械应力，控制细胞形状并允许细胞对其邻居施加力。因此，其机械性能是其生理功能的关键。在这里，我们概述了皮质的组成，结构和动力学如何控制皮质的力学和细胞形状。我们以有丝分裂为例来说明皮质力学的整体和局部调节如何引起一系列复杂的细胞形状变化。