T. D. Pollard

Mechanism of Phosphate Release from Actin Filaments

The paper uses molecular dynamics simulations to study phosphate release from actin filaments, identifying Mg2+ dissociation as the rate-limiting step and revealing the role of R177 in gate opening and occlusion.

Cryo-EM structures of both ends of the actin filament explain why the barbed end elongates faster than the pointed end

The paper uses cryo-EM to determine the structures of actin filament ends, explaining why barbed ends elongate faster than pointed ends and why pointed ends dissociate phosphate more rapidly.

A model of actin-driven endocytosis explains differences of endocytic motility in budding and fission yeast

The paper uses a 3D model to show that differences in turgor pressure between budding and fission yeast explain their distinct endocytic motility characteristics.

Interaction of the Proline-Rich Domain of Fission Yeast WASp (Ws1p1) with Actin Filaments

The paper investigates the interaction of the proline-rich domain of fission yeast WASp with actin filaments, showing it binds with micromolar affinity and affects actin polymerization.

Counting actin in contractile rings reveals novel contributions of cofilin and type II myosins to fission yeast cytokinesis

The paper quantifies polymerized actin in fission yeast contractile rings and shows cofilin and type II myosins regulate actin dynamics during cytokinesis.

The number of cytokinesis nodes in mitotic fission yeast scales with cell size

The paper counts cytokinesis nodes in fission yeast and finds their number scales with cell size, but not controlled by Pom1 kinase.

Myosins generate contractile force and maintain organization in the cytokinetic contractile ring

This study measures contractile ring tension in fission yeast and identifies Myo2 and Myp2 as key contributors to force generation and ring organization.

Cryo-electron microscopy structures of pyrene-labeled ADP-Pi- and ADP-actin filaments

The paper reports cryo-EM structures of pyrene-labeled actin filaments with ADP and ADP-phosphate, explaining fluorescence changes during polymerization and interactions with myosin, cofilin, and profilin.

Microtubule Nucleation Promoters Mto1 and Mto2 Regulate Cytokinesis in Fission Yeast

This study shows that Mto1 and Mto2 regulate astral microtubules and cytokinesis in fission yeast by affecting contractile ring constriction and Rho1-GTP levels.

Structural basis for polarized elongation of actin filaments

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to explain the structural basis for the asymmetric polymerization rates of actin filament ends.

Sample preparation and imaging conditions affect mEos3.2 photophysics in fission yeast cells

This study investigates how formaldehyde fixation and imaging conditions affect the photophysics of mEos3.2 in fission yeast cells, providing a guide for quantitative imaging and counting of mEos3.2-tagged molecules.

Simulation of the mechanics of actin assembly during endocytosis in yeast

The paper simulates actin assembly mechanics during yeast endocytosis, showing that forces from polymerized actin can overcome turgor pressure.

Phosphorylation of Arp2 is not essential for Arp2/3 complex activity in fission yeast

The study shows that phosphorylation of three Arp2 sites in fission yeast does not regulate Arp2/3 complex activity, as strains with modified phosphorylation sites grew normally and showed similar actin patch assembly effects.

Gating Mechanisms during Actin Filament Elongation by Formins

This study identifies two gating mechanisms by which formin FH2 domains regulate actin filament elongation rates through steric blockage and helical flattening.

Mechanism of actin polymerization revealed by cryo-EM structures of actin filaments with three different bound nucleotides

The paper determines cryo-EM structures of actin filaments with different bound nucleotides, revealing how polymerization affects ATP hydrolysis and filament growth.

Conformational changes in Arp2/3 complex induced by ATP, WASp-VCA and actin filaments

The paper investigates how ATP, WASp-VCA, and actin filaments induce conformational changes in the Arp2/3 complex using FRET and electron microscopy.

Analysis Of Interphase Node Proteins In Fission Yeast By Quantitative And Super Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

The paper uses microscopy techniques to study interphase nodes in fission yeast, finding they have defined sizes and protein compositions, with type 1 nodes disassembling during mitosis and type 2 nodes remaining intact.