Microtubules keep large cells in shape

Abstract

Migrating cells need to coordinate extension and retraction of their protrusions to avoid fragmenting. Kopf et al. (2020. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201907154) demonstrate that microtubules help to maintain cell coherence during amoeboid migration by controlling actomyosin contractility in retracting protrusions.

Figure 1.

Cytoskeletal organization in cell protrusions. (A) A DC making a choice between two channels. The “winning” protrusion, which acquires the nucleus and the microtubule-organizing center, maintains high microtubule density, whereas in the “losing” protrusion, microtubules depolymerize, and this leads to the release of Lfc and activation of actomyosin contractility. (B) Organization of microtubules and actin in different types of large cells.