Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation

Cells need intracellular forces for their physiological functions, such as migration, cytokinesis, and morphogenesis. The actin cytoskeleton generates a large fraction of the forces via interactions between cytoskeletal components, such as actin filament (F-actin), myosin, and actin cross-linking pr...

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Main Authors: Shihang Ding, Pei-En Chou, Shinji Deguchi, Taeyoon Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2025-08-01
Series:eLife
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Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/105236
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author Shihang Ding
Pei-En Chou
Shinji Deguchi
Taeyoon Kim
author_facet Shihang Ding
Pei-En Chou
Shinji Deguchi
Taeyoon Kim
author_sort Shihang Ding
collection DOAJ
description Cells need intracellular forces for their physiological functions, such as migration, cytokinesis, and morphogenesis. The actin cytoskeleton generates a large fraction of the forces via interactions between cytoskeletal components, such as actin filament (F-actin), myosin, and actin cross-linking proteins. Myosin II plays the most important role in cellular force generation. Myosin II molecules self-assemble into filaments with different structures depending on myosin II isoforms and other conditions such as pH and ionic concentration. It has remained elusive how force generation in actomyosin structures is affected by the architecture of myosin II filaments. In this study, we employed an agent-based model to investigate the effects of the structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation in disorganized actomyosin structures. We demonstrated that the magnitude of forces and the efficiency of force generation can vary over a wide range depending on the number and spatial distribution of myosin II filaments. Further, we showed that the number of myosin heads and the length of a bare zone at the center of myosin II filaments without heads highly affect the force generation process in bundles and networks. Our study provides insights into understanding the roles of the structural properties of myosin II filaments in actomyosin contractility.
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spelling doaj-art-9631589e30c64eb2ac85ce14a383b6a02025-08-20T03:36:34ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2025-08-011410.7554/eLife.105236Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generationShihang Ding0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0279-4700Pei-En Chou1Shinji Deguchi2Taeyoon Kim3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5588-8532Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, JapanSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, United StatesGraduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, JapanWeldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Japan; EMBRIO Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, United States; Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, JapanCells need intracellular forces for their physiological functions, such as migration, cytokinesis, and morphogenesis. The actin cytoskeleton generates a large fraction of the forces via interactions between cytoskeletal components, such as actin filament (F-actin), myosin, and actin cross-linking proteins. Myosin II plays the most important role in cellular force generation. Myosin II molecules self-assemble into filaments with different structures depending on myosin II isoforms and other conditions such as pH and ionic concentration. It has remained elusive how force generation in actomyosin structures is affected by the architecture of myosin II filaments. In this study, we employed an agent-based model to investigate the effects of the structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation in disorganized actomyosin structures. We demonstrated that the magnitude of forces and the efficiency of force generation can vary over a wide range depending on the number and spatial distribution of myosin II filaments. Further, we showed that the number of myosin heads and the length of a bare zone at the center of myosin II filaments without heads highly affect the force generation process in bundles and networks. Our study provides insights into understanding the roles of the structural properties of myosin II filaments in actomyosin contractility.https://elifesciences.org/articles/105236actinmyosincytoskeletonbundleforce generation
spellingShingle Shihang Ding
Pei-En Chou
Shinji Deguchi
Taeyoon Kim
Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation
eLife
actin
myosin
cytoskeleton
bundle
force generation
title Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation
title_full Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation
title_fullStr Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation
title_short Impacts of structural properties of myosin II filaments on force generation
title_sort impacts of structural properties of myosin ii filaments on force generation
topic actin
myosin
cytoskeleton
bundle
force generation
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/105236
work_keys_str_mv AT shihangding impactsofstructuralpropertiesofmyosiniifilamentsonforcegeneration
AT peienchou impactsofstructuralpropertiesofmyosiniifilamentsonforcegeneration
AT shinjideguchi impactsofstructuralpropertiesofmyosiniifilamentsonforcegeneration
AT taeyoonkim impactsofstructuralpropertiesofmyosiniifilamentsonforcegeneration