© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd | Journal of Cell Science (2018) 131, jcs186254. doi:10.1242/jcs.186254 CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE The actin cortex at a glance Priyamvada Chugh1,2,* and Ewa K. Paluch1,2,3,* ABSTRACT deformations. Recent studies have provided important insight into Precisely controlled cell deformations are key to cell migration, the molecular control of cortical tension by progressively unveiling division and tissue morphogenesis, and have been implicated in cell cortex composition and organization. In this Cell Science at a Glance differentiation during development, as well as cancer progression. In article and the accompanying poster, we review our current animal cells, shape changes are primarily driven by the cellular understanding of cortex composition and architecture. We then cortex, a thin actomyosin network that lies directly underneath discuss how the microscopic properties of the cortex control cortical the plasma membrane. Myosin-generated forces create tension in tension. While many open questions remain, it is now clear that the cortical network, and gradients in tension lead to cellular cortical tension can be modulated through both cortex composition and organization, providing multiple levels of regulation for this key cellular property during cell and tissue morphogenesis. 1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. 2Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College KEY WORDS: Actin, Cell shape, Cellular cortex, Contractility, London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. 3Department of Physiology, Development and Mechanics Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK. *Authors for correspondence (
[email protected]; Introduction
[email protected]) The cellular cortex is a thin actin network bound to the plasma P.C., 0000-0001-5378-5874; E.K.P., 0000-0003-4691-2323 membrane that is present in most animal cells.