L. Blanchoin

Plakins are involved in the maintenance of epithelial polarity

The paper identifies plakins as regulators of epithelial polarity by showing their downregulation in polarity loss and EMT progression, and demonstrates their causal role through experimental knockdown.

Deletion of FAT1 in hybrid EMT cells stimulates the migration of neighboring non-mutant cells through secretion of extracellular vesicles

heterotypic interaction promotes asymmetric division of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

This study shows that interaction with osteoblasts promotes asymmetric division of human HSPCs, leading to unequal inheritance of lysosomes and differentiation markers.

Microtubules under mechanical pressure can breach dense actin networks

The paper shows microtubules can breach dense actin networks under mechanical pressure when immobilized.

Friction patterns guide actin network contraction

This study shows that friction forces between actin networks and their substrate guide contraction direction and speed, demonstrating the importance of resistive forces in cell shape control.

Recycling limits the lifetime of actin turnover

This study investigates how actin turnover is sustained with a limited monomer pool by analyzing bead motility and identifying recycling as a key factor.

Actin architecture steers microtubules in active cytoskeletal composite

The paper shows that actin network architecture influences microtubule gliding in motility assays, offering a new way to control filament movement.

Microtubules self-repair in living cells

This study demonstrates that microtubules self-repair in living cells by incorporating injected tubulin dimers, showing spatial and temporal dynamics in PtK2 cells.

Compressive forces stabilise microtubules in living cells

The paper shows that compressive forces stabilize microtubules in living cells through CLASP2 relocation, indicating mechano-responsive properties.

The architecture of the actin network can balance the pushing forces produced by growing microtubules.

This study shows that actin network architecture modulates MTOC positioning by balancing pushing forces from growing microtubules.

Actin-microtubule dynamic composite forms responsive active matter with memory

This paper demonstrates an actin-microtubule composite that self-organizes through feedback loops, showing structural stability and adaptive plasticity in response to stimuli.

Structure and dynamics of Odinarchaeota tubulin and the implications for eukaryotic microtubule evolution

This study presents the structure of Odinarchaeota tubulin and shows it forms tubules similar to FtsZ, suggesting it is an evolutionary intermediate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic microtubule-forming proteins.

Kinesin-6 Klp9 orchestrates spindle elongation by regulating microtubule sliding and growth

This study identifies Klp9's dual role in regulating microtubule sliding and growth during anaphase B spindle elongation in S. pombe.

MICAL2 acts through Arp3B isoform-specific Arp2/3 complexes to destabilize branched actin networks

The paper shows MICAL2 regulates Arp3B-specific Arp2/3 complexes to control branched actin network disassembly through oxidation of Met293.

Hematopoietic progenitors polarize in contact with bone marrow stromal cells by engaging CXCR4 receptors.

This study shows that hematopoietic progenitors polarize when in contact with bone marrow stromal cells via CXCR4 receptors, leading to cytoskeletal reorganization and centrosome-microtubule network polarization.

Stress fibers are embedded in a contractile cortical network.

This study investigates how actin bundles are embedded in a contractile cortical network and how this affects traction force distribution in cells.

Loss of Ena/VASP interferes with lamellipodium architecture, motility and integrin-dependent adhesion

This study shows that Ena/VASP proteins promote cell migration by regulating lamellipodium architecture, actin dynamics, and integrin-dependent adhesion.

Acto-myosin network geometry defines centrosome position

This study shows that centrosome positioning is determined by actin network geometry rather than cell shape, with dynein forces placing the centrosome in an inner zone defined by actin contraction.

CLASP mediates microtubule repair by promoting tubulin incorporation into damaged lattices

This study shows CLASP2 promotes microtubule lattice repair by facilitating tubulin incorporation into damaged sites and stabilizing partial protofilaments.

Biophysical properties of intermediate states of EMT outperform both epithelial and mesenchymal states.

The paper investigates the biophysical properties of intermediate EMT states and finds they exhibit distinct structural and mechanical features compared to epithelial and mesenchymal states, with implications for tumor-cell dissemination.

Complex eukaryotic-like actin regulation systems from Asgard archaea

This paper identifies eukaryote-like actin regulation systems in Asgard archaea, showing calcium-regulated actin dynamics predating eukaryotes.

Microtubules deform the nucleus and force chromatin reorganization during early differentiation of human hematopoietic stem cells.

The paper shows microtubules cause nuclear invaginations and chromatin reorganization in human HSCs during myeloid differentiation, linking nuclear shape to gene expression changes.

Tailoring cryo-electron microscopy grids by photo-micropatterning for in-cell structural studies

This paper introduces a method to tailor cryo-electron microscopy grids using photo-micropatterning to improve cell positioning and enable in-cell structural studies.

Active cargo positioning in antiparallel transport networks

The paper studies cargo positioning in antiparallel actin networks using colloidal beads and myosin motors, finding that beads accumulate at regions of neutral polarity with motor-dependent precision.

Spatial integration of mechanical forces by alpha-actinin establishes actin network symmetry.

This study identifies alpha-actinin's role in maintaining actin network symmetry by integrating mechanical forces in response to extracellular cues.

Self-repair protects microtubules from their destruction by molecular motors

The paper investigates how molecular motors affect microtubule stability and discovers a self-repair mechanism that counteracts motor-induced damage.

Reconstitution of the equilibrium state of dynamic actin networks

This study investigates how actin network length is regulated by actin density, ADF/Cofilin concentration, and network width, revealing principles of dynamic equilibrium in actin networks.

Actin filaments regulate microtubule growth at the centrosome.

This study shows that actin filaments at the centrosome reduce microtubule growth through steric hindrance, and that cell adhesion and actin network density influence microtubule numbers.

Lattice defects induce microtubule self-renewal

This study shows that microtubules can exchange dimers along their shaft, requiring lattice defects, enabling self-renewal and potential regulation of signaling and structural changes.