1. Cytoskeleton rearrangements during the execution phase of apoptosis
- Author
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Mónica Álvarez Córdoba, José Antonio Sánchez-Alcázar, Manuel Oropesa-Ávila, Juan MiguelSuarez Rivero, Raquel Luzón Hidalgo, Isabel de Lavera, David Cotán, Mario de la Mata, Patricia de la Cruz Ojeda, Jesús Porcuna Doncel, Marina Villanueva Paz, Asociación de Enfermos de Patologías Mitocondriales (España), European Commission, Junta de Andalucía, ENACH Asociación, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Chemistry ,Apoptosis ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Actin Intermediate filaments ,Cytoskeleton ,Molecular biology ,Apoptotic microtubule network ,Microtubules - Abstract
Apoptosis is a regulated energy-dependent process for the elimination of unnecessary or damaged cells during embryonic development, tissue homeostasis and many pathological conditions. Apoptosis is characterized by specific morphological and biochemical features in which caspase activation has a pivotal role. During apoptosis, cells undergo characteristic morphological reorganizations in which the cytoskeleton participates actively. Traditionally, this cytoskeleton rearrangement has been assigned mainly to actinomyosin ring contraction, with microtubule and intermediate filaments both reported to be depolymerized at early stages of apoptosis. However, recent results have shown that microtubules are reformed during the execution phase of apoptosis forming an apoptotic microtubule network (AMN). Current hypothesis proposes that AMN is required to maintain plasma membrane integrity and cell morphology during the execution phase of apoptosis. AMN disruption provokes apoptotic cell collapse, secondary necrosis and the subsequent release of toxic molecules which can damage surrounding cells and promote inflammation. Therefore, AMN formation in physiological or pathological apoptosis is essential for tissue homeostasis., This work was supported by FIS PI13/00129 grant, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER-Unión Europea), Proyecto de Investigación de Excelencia de la Junta de Andalucía CTS-5725, and by AEPMI (Asociación de Enfermos de Patología Mitocondrial) and ENACH (Asociación de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas por Acumulación Cerebral de Hierro).
- Published
- 2016