Actin polymerization and depolymerization in developing vertebrates

Yang Bai; Feng Zhao; Tingting Wu; Fangchun Chen; Xiaoxiao Pang

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1213668

Actin polymerization and depolymerization in developing vertebrates

Front Physiol. 2023 Sep 8:14:1213668. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213668. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yang Bai^#^{1

2

3}, Feng Zhao^#^{1

2

3}, Tingting Wu^{1

2

3}, Fangchun Chen^{1

2

3}, Xiaoxiao Pang^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
² Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, China.
³ Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Development is a complex process that occurs throughout the life cycle. F-actin, a major component of the cytoskeleton, is essential for the morphogenesis of tissues and organs during development. F-actin is formed by the polymerization of G-actin, and the dynamic balance of polymerization and depolymerization ensures proper cellular function. Disruption of this balance results in various abnormalities and defects or even embryonic lethality. Here, we reviewed recent findings on the structure of G-actin and F-actin and the polymerization of G-actin to F-actin. We also focused on the functions of actin isoforms and the underlying mechanisms of actin polymerization/depolymerization in cellular and organic morphogenesis during development. This information will extend our understanding of the role of actin polymerization in the physiologic or pathologic processes during development and may open new avenues for developing therapeutics for embryonic developmental abnormalities or tissue regeneration.

Keywords: F-actin; G-actin; embryonic development; morphogenesis; organogenesis.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32000572), Postdoctoral Project of Chongqing Natural Science Foundation (cstc2020jcyj-bshX0107), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M683267), CQMU Program for Youth Innovation in Future Medicine (W0095), Joint project of Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau (2020MSXM005), Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2021YFQ0064), and Chongqing Medical Scientific Research Project (2021msxm288).