Dynamic gradients of an intermediate filament-like cytoskeleton are recruited by a polarity landmark during apical growth

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1305358110
• Publication Date: 2013-05-03T05:34:48Z
• Authors: Katsuya Fuchino; Sonchita Bagchi; Stuart Cantlay; Linda Sandblad; Di Wu; Jessica Bergman; Masood Kamali-Mog...; Klas Flärdh; Nora Ausmees
• Keywords: Cytoskeletal Proteins; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Bacterial Proteins; Cell Cycle Proteins; Streptomyces coelicolor; Protein Multimerization; Cytoskeleton; Protein Binding

SignificanceHere, we show that FilP, a bacterial cytoskeletal protein related to metazoan intermediate filament (IF) proteins, can self-assemble into a regular network structure. This finding offers a possible explanation for its previously characterized role in cellular rigidity and elasticity and might offer insights into the mechanical role of human IFs. The assembly of FilP cytoskeleton is coupled to the function of the polarisome, a protein complex orchestrating the polar growth characteristic ofStreptomyces. These results suggest that apical assembly of a stress-bearing cytoskeleton is a common strategy in tip-growing walled cells, such as filamentous fungi, pollen tubes, and mycelial bacteria.