Cell cortex
The cell cortex, also known as the actin cortex, cortical cytoskeleton or actomyosin cortex, is a specialized layer of
In some animal cells, the protein
Many proteins are involved in the cortex regulation and dynamics including formins with roles in actin polymerization, Arp2/3 complexes that give rise to actin branching and capping proteins. Due to the branching process and the density of the actin cortex, the cortical cytoskeleton can form a highly complex meshwork such as a fractal structure.[8] Specialized cells are usually characterized by a very specific cortical actin cytoskeleton. For example, in red blood cells, the cell cortex consists of a two-dimensional cross-linked elastic network with pentagonal or hexagonal symmetry, tethered to the plasma membrane and formed primarily by spectrin, actin and ankyrin.[9] In neuronal axons the actin/spectric cytoskeleton forms an array of periodic rings [10] and in the sperm flagellum it forms a helical structure.[11]
In plant cells, the cell cortex is reinforced by cortical microtubules underlying the plasma membrane. The direction of these cortical microtubules determines which way the cell elongates when it grows.
Functions
The cortex mainly functions to produce tension under the cell membrane, allowing the cell to change shape.
In
Thus, the cell cortex serves to protect the microtubule spindle from external mechanical disruption during mitosis.[15] When external forces are applied at sufficiently large rate and magnitude to a mitotic cell, loss of cortical F-actin homogeneity occurs leading to herniation of blebs and a temporary loss of the ability to protect the mitotic spindle.[16] Genetic studies have shown that the cell cortex in mitosis is regulated by diverse genes such as Rhoa,[17] WDR1,[18] ERM proteins,[19] Ect2,[20] Pbl, Cdc42, aPKC, Par6,[21] DJ-1 and FAM134A.[22]In cytokinesis the cell cortex plays a central role by producing a myosin-rich contractile ring to constrict the dividing cell into two daughter cells.[23]
Cell cortex contractility is key for amoeboidal type cell migration characteristic of many cancer cell metastasis events.[1][24]
Research
Basic research into the cell cortex is done with
References
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