The cytoskeleton, as its name suggests, is a class of self-assembling polymers that dictate the shape and mechanical properties of cells. Comprising the actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, the cytoskeleton also teams up with motor proteins to determine the relative positions of membrane-bound compartments within cells and bring about other vital cellular functions, including migration and cell division. The dynamicity of cytoskeletal polymers also sets them apart from their namesake in our bodies (the skeleton) by allowing them to adapt to external and internal stimuli quickly. For instance, when presented with a bacterium, the immune system’s phagocytic cells form actin protrusions on-demand to engulf the invaders. Wound healing requires the concerted rearrangement of both the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton to enable cells to migrate to the site of the wound. Differentiation of stem cells can be controlled by tweaking the organization and abundance of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton when altering the cellular substrate. Therefore, in the case of the cytoskeleton, ‘form follows function,’ but also ‘function follows form’! All these examples underscore the role of the cytoskeleton in normal cellular functions. In this edition of the Journal of the Indian Institute of Science, reviews by Hegde, A. et al., Biswas, A. et al., Rasool, S. et al., and Kumari, S. et al. delve into the essential roles of the cytoskeleton and associated proteins in wound healing, membrane homeostasis, cell–cell interactions, and in the formation of the immunological synapse, respectively. Paradkar, S. et al. and Yadu, N. et al. describe unconventional cytoskeletal assemblies in red blood cells and bacteria, which help the former deform, and the latter divide. Krishnamurthy, V. dons an active matter lens in his article to describe the actomyosin cortex underlying the cell membrane. The cytoskeleton also proves to be an important target during disease, when normal cellular processes are derailed. Cancer cells typically display lower mechanical stiffness when compared to healthy counterparts. Softer cancer cells are proposed to be able to squeeze through narrow Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan* J. Indian Inst. Sci.

中文翻译：

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细胞骨架力学

顾名思义，细胞骨架是一类自组装聚合物，它决定了细胞的形状和机械特性。由肌动蛋白丝、微管和中间丝组成，细胞骨架还与运动蛋白合作，以确定细胞内膜结合区室的相对位置，并带来其他重要的细胞功能，包括迁移和细胞分裂。细胞骨架聚合物的动态性还使它们能够快速适应外部和内部刺激，从而使它们与我们身体中的同名（骨架）区分开来。例如，当遇到细菌时，免疫系统的吞噬细胞会按需形成肌动蛋白突起以吞噬入侵者。伤口愈合需要肌动蛋白和微管细胞骨架的协同重排，以使细胞能够迁移到伤口部位。当改变细胞基质时，可以通过调整肌动蛋白和微管细胞骨架的组织和丰度来控制干细胞的分化。因此，在细胞骨架的情况下，“形式追随功能”，而且“功能追随形式”！所有这些例子都强调了细胞骨架在正常细胞功能中的作用。在本期《印度科学研究所杂志》中，Hegde, A. 等人、Biswas, A. 等人、Rasool, S. 等人以及 Kumari, S. 等人的评论。深入研究细胞骨架和相关蛋白质在伤口愈合、膜稳态、细胞间相互作用和免疫突触形成中的重要作用，分别。Paradkar, S. 等。和 Yadu, N. 等人。描述了红细胞和细菌中非常规的细胞骨架组件，它们有助于前者变形，后者有助于分裂。Krishnamurthy, V. 在他的文章中戴上了一个活性物质透镜来描述细胞膜下面的肌动球蛋白皮层。当正常的细胞过程脱轨时，细胞骨架也被证明是疾病期间的一个重要目标。与健康细胞相比，癌细胞通常表现出较低的机械刚度。较软的癌细胞被提议能够挤过狭窄的 Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan* J. Indian Inst。科学。在他的文章中戴上一个活性物质镜头来描述细胞膜下面的肌动球蛋白皮层。当正常的细胞过程脱轨时，细胞骨架也被证明是疾病期间的一个重要目标。与健康细胞相比，癌细胞通常表现出较低的机械刚度。较软的癌细胞被提议能够挤过狭窄的 Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan* J. Indian Inst。科学。在他的文章中戴上一个活性物质镜头来描述细胞膜下面的肌动球蛋白皮层。当正常的细胞过程脱轨时，细胞骨架也被证明是疾病期间的一个重要目标。与健康细胞相比，癌细胞通常表现出较低的机械刚度。较软的癌细胞被提议能够挤过狭窄的 Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan* J. Indian Inst。科学。印度研究所 科学。印度研究所 科学。