About this Research Topic
Cytoskeletal proteins are essential building blocks of cells to facilitate many processes such as intracellular signaling and transport, cell morphology changes and migration. However, emerging evidence has revealed the presence of cytoskeletal proteins such as actin, myosin, and keratins in the nucleus, as well as their critical roles in nuclear processes. The form of cytoskeletal proteins and their interaction partners can be different in the nuclear compartment. While both genetic and biochemical studies support some key functions of nuclear actin, there is still a lack of consensus regarding whether the extremely rare reports of actin filaments in the nucleus represent a normal or rare event let alone whether they might reflect an artefact of fixation protocols. Understanding of the functional interplay between different cytoskeletal proteins and their nuclear partners is needed to shed light on their novel functions in transcription, DNA unwinding, epigenetic control, and rapid genome rearrangements.
The goal of this Research Topic is to stimulate the discussion into the roles of different cytoskeletal proteins in nuclear processes, including in transcription regulation, chromatin modification and 3D genome organization, and their potential engagement in cell fate changes. For example, recent advances include the understanding of nuclear actin in regulating inducible transcription of RNA polymerase II, and the β-actin dependent chromatin remodelling in 3D genome organization. However, other cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin and intermediate filaments are also found to be shuttled between the cytoplasm and nucleus. We are far from understanding their nuclear functions. A more comprehensive picture of the roles of cytoskeletal proteins in the nucleus will also shed light on how the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartment coordinate their function in response to external stimuli such as in mechano-signal transduction. We hope that this research topic not only attracts studies in elucidating novel nuclear function of cytoskeletal proteins, but also illuminates important directions for future research.
Perspective articles to be covered in this Research Topic are related, but are not limited to the following subtopics:
-import or export of cytoskeletal proteins in the nucleus;
-functional interactions between cytoskeletal proteins and nuclear partners;
-cytoskeletal proteins in transcription regulation and epigenetic control;
-roles of cytoskeletal proteins in chromatin modification and genome organization;
-impact of cytoskeletal proteins on nuclear gene programs during cell differentiation.
The following manuscript types will be considered, with a particular emphasis on Original Research and Short communications, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Perspectives.
The goal of this Research Topic is to stimulate the discussion into the roles of different cytoskeletal proteins in nuclear processes, including in transcription regulation, chromatin modification and 3D genome organization, and their potential engagement in cell fate changes. For example, recent advances include the understanding of nuclear actin in regulating inducible transcription of RNA polymerase II, and the β-actin dependent chromatin remodelling in 3D genome organization. However, other cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin and intermediate filaments are also found to be shuttled between the cytoplasm and nucleus. We are far from understanding their nuclear functions. A more comprehensive picture of the roles of cytoskeletal proteins in the nucleus will also shed light on how the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartment coordinate their function in response to external stimuli such as in mechano-signal transduction. We hope that this research topic not only attracts studies in elucidating novel nuclear function of cytoskeletal proteins, but also illuminates important directions for future research.
Perspective articles to be covered in this Research Topic are related, but are not limited to the following subtopics:
-import or export of cytoskeletal proteins in the nucleus;
-functional interactions between cytoskeletal proteins and nuclear partners;
-cytoskeletal proteins in transcription regulation and epigenetic control;
-roles of cytoskeletal proteins in chromatin modification and genome organization;
-impact of cytoskeletal proteins on nuclear gene programs during cell differentiation.
The following manuscript types will be considered, with a particular emphasis on Original Research and Short communications, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Perspectives.
Keywords: Cytoskeletal proteins, nuclear function, transcription regulation, chromatin organization, cell differentiation
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