NIH R01 · 2024
Actin cytoskeleton regulation of lens architecture, transparency and mechanics
Project Summary Lifelong lens transparency and flexible shape, required for focusing light onto the retina, relies upon epithelial and fiber cells whose shapes and organizations depend on filamentous (F-) actin networks. Epithelial cells contain three distinct F-actin networks: lateral cell junctions, basal stress fibers, and unique apical polygonal arrays. These networks consist of tropomyosin (Tpm) isoforms that stabilize F-actin, as well as non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA), and are thought to generate contractile or tensile forces to stabilize epithelial deformation and integrity during whole lens shape changes, but this has not been tested. Epithelial cells differentiate into long, thin…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.