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Topic Review
Cofilin Signaling
Three ADF/cofilin family members are expressed in mammals: ADF, cofilin-1, and cofilin-2. The first member ADF (also known as destrin), encoded by the gene DSTN in humans, was initially identified in the chick brain. Cofilin was discovered as an actin-interacting protein in the porcine brain. Later, Ono et al. identified two mammalian variants of cofilin, non-muscle type (also known as cofilin-1 and n-cofilin) and muscle type (also known as cofilin-2 and m-cofilin). In humans, cofilin-1 and cofilin-2 are encoded by the genes CFL1 and CFL2, respectively. Different isoforms of ADF/cofilin have qualitatively similar but quantitatively different effects on actin dynamics. To be noted, both ADF and cofilin show cooperative binding with actin filaments. Interestingly, cofilin-1 comprises almost 90% of the total ADF/cofilin family in CNS. Cofilin can bind to both G-actin and F-actin, exhibiting stronger affinities for the ADP-bound actins than the ATP- or ADP-Pi-bound forms. Cofilin binding to F-actin induces actin subunit rotation, enhances Pi release along the filament, and promotes filament severing in a concentration-dependent manner.
  • 608
  • 28 Oct 2021
Topic Review
The Extracellular Matrix in Cancer
As the core component of all organs, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an interlocking macromolecular meshwork of proteins, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans that provides mechanical support to cells and tissues. In cancer, the ECM can be remodelled in response to environmental cues, and it controls a plethora of cellular functions, including metabolism, cell polarity, migration, and proliferation, to sustain and support oncogenesis. The biophysical and biochemical properties of the ECM, such as its structural arrangement and being a reservoir for bioactive molecules, control several intra- and intercellular signalling pathways and induce cytoskeletal changes that alter cell shapes, behaviour, and viability.
  • 607
  • 18 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Asbestos and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
The link between asbestos exposure and the onset of thoracic malignancies is well established. However epidemiological studies have provided evidences that asbestos may be also involved in the development of gastrointestinal tumors, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). In line with this observation, asbestos fibers have been detected in the liver of patients with ICC. Although the exact mechanism still remains unknown, the presence of asbestos fibers in the liver could be explained in the light of their translocation pathway following ingestion/inhalation. In the liver, thin and long asbestos fibers could remain trapped in the smaller bile ducts, particularly in the stem cell niche of the canals of Hering, and exerting their carcinogenic effect for a long time, thus inducing hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HpSCs) malignant transformation. In this scenario, chronic liver damage induced by asbestos fibers over the years could be seen as a classic model of stem cell-derived carcinogenesis, where HpSC malignant transformation represents the first step of this process. This phenomenon could explain the recent epidemiological findings, where asbestos exposure seems mainly involved in ICC, rather than extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, development.
  • 606
  • 04 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Calcium Signaling and Mitochondrial Oxidative Capacity
The intermyofibrillar mitochondria constitute the majority of the three-mitochondrial subpopulations in the cardiac myocyte. They are also considered to be the most important in terms of their ability to participate in calcium and cellular signaling, which are critical for the regulation of mitochondrial function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. 
  • 605
  • 20 Oct 2021
Topic Review
The Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome
The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a complicated cellular component that plays significant roles in regulating the cell cycle process of eukaryotic organisms. The spatiotemporal regulation mechanisms of APC/C in distinct cell cycle transitions are no longer mysterious, and the components of this protein complex are gradually identified and characterized.
  • 605
  • 23 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Effects of Vitamin D on Satellite Cells
Vitamin D is a micronutrient that plays a role in the homeostasis of various body organs, including skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle growth and regeneration are critically affected by satellite cells, skeletal muscle stem cells. The discovery of vitamin D receptors on satellite cells supports the role of vitamin D in regulating satellite cell function. In vivo studies have shown the effect of vitamin D on skeletal muscle growth in early life, muscle homeostasis in aging, and skeletal muscle regeneration in conditions of muscle injury or chronic disease.
  • 603
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Cytoskeleton Reorganization in EndMT
EndMT-derived cells, known as the myofibroblasts or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), are characterized by the loss of cell–cell junctions, loss of endothelial markers, and gain in mesenchymal ones.
  • 602
  • 16 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Stemness and Apoptosis
Stemness and apoptosis may highlight the dichotomy between regeneration and demise in the complex pathway proceeding from ontogenesis to the end of life. In the last few years, the concept has emerged that the same microRNAs (miRNAs) can be concurrently implicated in both apoptosis-related mechanisms and cell differentiation. Whether the differentiation process gives rise to the architecture of brain areas, any long-lasting perturbation of miRNA expression can be related to the occurrence of neurodevelopmental/neuropathological conditions. Moreover, as a consequence of neural stem cell (NSC) transformation to cancer stem cells (CSCs), the fine modulation of distinct miRNAs becomes necessary. This event implies controlling the expression of pro/anti-apoptotic target genes, which is crucial for the management of neural/neural crest-derived CSCs in brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and melanoma.
  • 602
  • 20 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Cell Wall Associated Kinase
Cell wall associated kinases (WAKs) are receptor-like protein kinases, found in plant cell walls, that have the capability to transmit signals directly by their cytoplasmic kinase domains. They usually link the plasma membrane to the protein and carbohydrate that composed the cell wall. The receptor-like proteins contain a cytoplasmic serine threonine kinase and a less conserved region; bound to the cell wall and contains a series of epidermal growth factor repeats. WAKs are found in various plants and crops like rice, and maize. In plants genome like Arabidopsis, WAKs, are encoded by five highly similar genes clustered in a 30-kb locus, among them WAK1 & WAK2 are highly distributed. They are primarily involved in regulating plant cell wall functions including cell expansion, bind as well as response to pectins, pathogen response and also protects plants from detrimental effects.
  • 602
  • 03 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Tunneling Nanotubes
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are recognized long membrane nanotubes connecting distance cells. In the last decade, growing evidence has shown that these subcellular structures mediate the specific transfer of cellular materials, pathogens, and electrical signals between cells. As intercellular bridges, they play a unique role in embryonic development, collective cell migration, injured cell recovery, cancer treatment resistance, and pathogen propagation. Although TNTs have been considered as potential drug targets for treatment, there is still a long way to go to translate the research findings into clinical practice.
  • 602
  • 10 Mar 2021
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