About this Research Topic
Tropomodulins (Tmods) have two tropomyosin (Tpm)- and two actin-binding sites, which allow them to bind to the slow-growing pointed ends of Tpm-stabilized actin filaments (F-actin), thus preventing polymerization/depolymerization of F-actin. This is crucial for Tmod's ability to regulate the formation, reorganization, and maintenance of F-actin structures, which are major determinants of most cell types' morphologies. However, since most vertebrates have six isoforms of actin, ~40 isoforms of Tpm, and four isoforms of Tmod, each with variable expression in different cell types, the isoform-specific interactions dictating F-actin dynamics are challenging to study. In organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, only one Tmod isoform is expressed, simplifying, but not trivializing, the study of Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made on this subject in several mammalian, D. melanogaster, and C. elegans cell types, especially in muscle. However, there are still several cell types in which the study of Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics is incomplete, emerging, or not yet begun.
F-actin structures are major determinants of most cell types' morphologies, and the regulation of F-actin dynamics is critical for health. The goal of this research topic is to advance our understanding of Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics in all cell types, including both muscle and non-muscle cells, in mammals and non-mammals, and in healthy and cancerous states. This would involve identifying the prominent actin, Tpm, and Tmod isoform(s), deciphering the isoform-specific interactions of actin, Tpm, and Tmod, and determining how the isoform-specific interactions therein dictate the F-actin dynamics required for that specific cell type. Understanding how Tmod regulates F-actin dynamics in various cell types will help us understand how healthy cells develop and equip us to better comprehend disease states.
In this Research Topic, we invite top scientists in the field and members of their research groups to submit their research and reviews on the following subtopics:
1) Tmod and Tpm isoform expression patterns
2) Effects of upregulating or downregulating expression of Tmod, Tpm, or actin isoforms on Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics
3) Effects of changes in Tmod (post-translational modifications, mutations, proteolytic cleavage) on Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics
4) Structures and binding affinities of relevant isoforms of Tmod/Tpm and Tmod/actin complexes
F-actin structures are major determinants of most cell types' morphologies, and the regulation of F-actin dynamics is critical for health. The goal of this research topic is to advance our understanding of Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics in all cell types, including both muscle and non-muscle cells, in mammals and non-mammals, and in healthy and cancerous states. This would involve identifying the prominent actin, Tpm, and Tmod isoform(s), deciphering the isoform-specific interactions of actin, Tpm, and Tmod, and determining how the isoform-specific interactions therein dictate the F-actin dynamics required for that specific cell type. Understanding how Tmod regulates F-actin dynamics in various cell types will help us understand how healthy cells develop and equip us to better comprehend disease states.
In this Research Topic, we invite top scientists in the field and members of their research groups to submit their research and reviews on the following subtopics:
1) Tmod and Tpm isoform expression patterns
2) Effects of upregulating or downregulating expression of Tmod, Tpm, or actin isoforms on Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics
3) Effects of changes in Tmod (post-translational modifications, mutations, proteolytic cleavage) on Tmod-regulated F-actin dynamics
4) Structures and binding affinities of relevant isoforms of Tmod/Tpm and Tmod/actin complexes
Keywords: tropomodulin, physiology, tropomyosin, F-actin dynamics
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