Control of actin polymerization via reactive oxygen species generation using light or radiation

Tetsuya Ishimoto; Hisashi Mori

doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.1014008

Control of actin polymerization via reactive oxygen species generation using light or radiation

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 23:10:1014008. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1014008. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Tetsuya Ishimoto^{1

2}, Hisashi Mori^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
² Research Center for Idling Brain Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
³ Research Center for Pre-Disease Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

Abstract

Actin is one of the most prevalent proteins in cells, and its amino acid sequence is remarkably conserved from protozoa to humans. The polymerization-depolymerization cycle of actin immediately below the plasma membrane regulates cell function, motility, and morphology. It is known that actin and other actin-binding proteins are targets for reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating that ROS affects cells through actin reorganization. Several researchers have attempted to control actin polymerization from outside the cell to mimic or inhibit actin reorganization. To modify the polymerization state of actin, ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light, ionizing radiation, and chromophore-assisted light inactivation have all been reported to induce ROS. Additionally, a combination of the fluorescent protein KillerRed and the luminescent protein luciferase can generate ROS on actin fibers and promote actin polymerization. These techniques are very useful tools for analyzing the relationship between ROS and cell function, movement, and morphology, and are also expected to be used in therapeutics. In this mini review, we offer an overview of the advancements in this field, with a particular focus on how to control intracellular actin polymerization using such optical approaches, and discuss future challenges.

Keywords: actin; chromophore-assisted light inactivation; laser; polymerization; reactive oxygen species; ultraviolet.

Publication types

Review