TitleCytoskeletal control of nuclear morphology and chromatin organization.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsRamdas NM, Shivashankar GV
JournalJ Mol Biol
Volume427
Issue3
Pagination695-706
Date Published2015 Feb 13
ISSN1089-8638
KeywordsActins, Animals, Cell Nucleus, Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly, Cytoskeleton, Drosophila melanogaster, Gene Expression Regulation, Histones, Mechanotransduction, Cellular, Nuclear Proteins
Abstract

The nucleus is sculpted toward various morphologies during cellular differentiation and development. Alterations in nuclear shape often result in changes to chromatin organization and genome function. This is thought to be reflective of its role as a cellular mechanotransducer. Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of cytoskeletal organization in defining how nuclear morphology regulates chromatin dynamics. However, the mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal control of chromatin remodeling are not well understood. We demonstrate here the differential influence of perinuclear actin- and microtubule-driven assemblies on nuclear architecture using pharmacological inhibitors and targeted RNA interference knockdown of cytoskeleton components in Drosophila cells. We find evidence that the loss of perinuclear actin assembly results in basolateral enhancement of microtubule organization and this is reflected functionally by enhanced nuclear dynamics. Cytoskeleton reorganization leads to nuclear lamina deformation that influences heterochromatin localization and core histone protein mobility. We also show that modulations in actin-microtubule assembly result in differential gene expression patterns. Taken together, we suggest that perinuclear actin and basolateral microtubule organization exerts mechanical control on nuclear morphology and chromatin dynamics.

DOI10.1016/j.jmb.2014.09.008
Alternate JournalJ. Mol. Biol.
PubMed ID25281900