In cells migrating through complex three-dimensional microenvironments, microtubules are adaptively reinforced at areas of high compressive stress. This reinforcement controls the release of microtubule-bound contractility effectors to locally modify force generation in space and time, enabling motility and cell survival in mechanically strenuous settings.
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References
Brangwynne, C. P. et al. Microtubules can bear enhanced compressive loads in living cells because of lateral reinforcement. J. Cell Biol. 173, 733–741 (2006). A paper showing that microtubules can resist compressive loads.
Xu, Z. et al. Microtubules acquire resistance from mechanical breakage through intralumenal acetylation. Science 356, 328–332 (2017). A paper reporting that microtubule acetylation modifies the flexural rigidity of microtubules in response to mechanical bending.
Schaedel, L. et al. Microtubules self-repair in response to mechanical stress. Nat. Mater. 14, 1156–1163 (2015). A paper showing that microtubules can ‘self heal’ in response to mechanical damage, modifying their rigidity.
Aher, A. et al. CLASP mediates microtubule repair by restricting lattice damage and regulating tubulin incorporation. Curr. Biol. 30, 2175–2183 (2020). A paper showing that microtubule lattice repair is facilitated by CLASPs.
Schmidt, C. J. & Stehbens, S. J. Microtubule control of migration: coordination in confinement. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 86, 102289 (2024). A review article discussing how microtubules sense and adapt to physical changes in their environment during migration.
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This is a summary of: Ju, R. J. et al. Compression-dependent microtubule reinforcement enables cells to navigate confined environments. Nat. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-024-01476-x (2024).
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Adaptive microtubule reinforcement enables cell migration through 3D environments. Nat Cell Biol 26, 1382–1383 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-024-01477-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-024-01477-w
