Cell and tissue morphogenesis depend on the production and spatial organization of tensional forces in the actin cytoskeleton. Actin network architecture is made of distinct modules characterized by specific filament organizations. The assembly of these modules are well described, but their integration in a cellular network is less understood. Here, we investigated the mechanism regulating the interplay between network architecture and the geometry of the extracellular environment of the cell. We found that α-actinin, a filament crosslinker, is essential for network symmetry to be consistent with extracellular microenvironment symmetry. It is required for the interconnection of transverse arcs with radial fibres to ensure an appropriate balance between forces at cell adhesions and across the actin network. Furthermore, this connectivity appeared necessary for the ability of the cell to integrate and to adapt to complex patterns of extracellular cues as they migrate. Our study has unveiled a role of actin filament crosslinking in the spatial integration of mechanical forces that ensures the adaptation of intracellular symmetry axes in accordance with the geometry of extracellular cues.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

中文翻译：

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α-肌动蛋白对机械力的空间整合建立了肌动蛋白网络对称性。

细胞和组织的形态发生取决于肌动蛋白细胞骨架中张力的产生和空间组织。肌动蛋白网络架构由具有特定细丝组织特征的不同模块组成。这些模块的组装得到了很好的描述，但它们在蜂窝网络中的集成却鲜为人知。在这里，我们研究了调节网络架构与细胞胞外环境几何形状之间相互作用的机制。我们发现α-辅肌动蛋白是一种长丝交联剂，对于网络对称性与细胞外微环境对称性一致至关重要。横向弧与径向纤维的互连需要确保细胞粘附力和肌动蛋白网络之间的适当平衡。此外，这种连接对于细胞在迁移时整合和适应复杂的细胞外线索模式的能力来说是必要的。我们的研究揭示了肌动蛋白丝交联在机械力空间整合中的作用，确保根据细胞外线索的几何形状适应细胞内对称轴。本文与论文第一作者进行了相关的第一人称采访。