The reconstitution of the membrane cytoskeleton using a lipid layer

Abstract

Actin filaments play central roles in shape determination, cytokinesis, and cell motility. Recently, we found a new type of actin filament that is seemed to contact tightly membrane surface and be buried into membrane under electron microscope. However, the function of this actin filament is not obvious. Then, we have reproduced of such actin filaments using a lipid layer instead of the cell membrane cytoskeleton. We confirmed that the several actin filaments extended on the lipid layer while contacting firmly. The appearance of actin filaments on the lipid layer is quite similar to the new type of actin filaments buried in the cell membrane.