Involvement of β- and γ-actin isoforms in actin cytoskeleton organization and migration abilities of bleb-forming human colon cancer cells

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 3; p. e0173709
• Main Authors: Simiczyjew, Aleksandra, Mazur, Antonina Joanna, Dratkiewicz, Ewelina, Nowak, Dorota
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 23.03.2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Actin; Actin Cytoskeleton - physiology; Actin Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure; Actins - isolation & purification; Actins - physiology; Adhesive strength; Biological activity; Biology and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Blister - pathology; Cancer; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell migration; Cell Movement - physiology; Cloning; Colon; Colon cancer; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Colonic Neoplasms - physiopathology; Colorectal cancer; Cortex; Cytoskeleton; Extracellular matrix; Ezrin; Forming; Gene expression; Human motion; Human performance; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Isoforms; Medicine and Health Sciences; Microscopy, Confocal; Monoclonal antibodies; Motility; Muscles; Myosin; Pathology; Physiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymerization; Polypeptides; Protein Isoforms - physiology; Proteins; Research and Analysis Methods; Signal transduction; Smooth muscle
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173709

Amoeboid movement is characteristic for rounded cells, which do not form strong adhesion contacts with the ECM and use blebs as migratory protrusions. It is well known that actin is the main component of mature forms of these structures, but the exact role fulfilled by non-muscle actin isoforms β- and γ- in bleb formation and migration of these cells is still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to establish the role of β- and γ-actin in migration of bleb-forming cancer cells using isoform-specific antibodies and expression of fluorescently tagged actin isoforms. We observed, after staining with monoclonal antibodies, that both actins are present in these cells in the form of a cortical ring as well as in the area of blebs. Additionally, using simultaneous expression of differentially tagged β- and γ-actin in cells, we observed that the actin isoforms are present together in a single bleb. They were involved during bleb expansion as well as retraction. Also present in the area of these protrusions formed by both isoforms were the bleb markers-ezrin and myosin II. The overexpression of β- or γ-actin led to actin cytoskeletal rearrangement followed by the growth of migration and invasion abilities of examined human colon cancer cells, LS174T line. In summary these data prove that both actin isoforms have an impact on motility of bleb-forming cancer cells. Moreover, we conclude that monoclonal antibodies directed against actin isoforms in combination with the tagged actins are good tools to study their role in important biological processes.