Gray Fox Lung Fibroblast Cells with mKusabira Orange Zyxin

Zyxin is a cytoplasmic protein found in a number of distinct types of adherens junctions—protein complexes that occur at cell-cell junctions in epithelial tissues—and plays a role in the organization of membrane-cytoskeletal attachments. Zyxin is found in fibroblasts, smooth muscle and pigmented retinal epithelium. In the digital video presented above, normal Gray fox lung fibroblast cells (FoLu line) are expressing a fusion of monomeric Kusabira Orange (mKO) fluorescent protein to human zyxin.

Cell motility has evolved into two fundamental means of generating movement. One mechanism utilizes a special class of enzymes called motor proteins. Using energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP), these proteins slide along a microfilament or microtubule. Some motor proteins actually carry membrane-bound organelles and vesicles along the cytoskeletal fiber tracks, while other motor proteins guide the fibers past each other. The second mechanism responsible for many of the changes in the motion of a cell involves assembly and disassembly of microfilaments and microtubules. Some movements involve both the action of motor proteins and cytoskeleton arrangements. In the digital video presented above, normal Gray fox lung fibroblast cells (FoLu line) are expressing a fusion of monomeric Kusabira Orange (mKO) fluorescent protein to human zyxin.

The assembly of focal adhesions is regulated by the GTP-binding protein Rho. Rho stimulates contractility which, in cells that are tightly adherent to the substrate, generates isometric tension. This then leads to the bundling of actin filaments and the aggregation of integrins (extracellular matrix receptors) in the plane of the membrane. The aggregation of integrins activates the focal adhesion kinase and leads to the assembly of a multicomponent signaling complex. In the digital video presented above, normal Gray fox lung fibroblast cells (FoLu line) are expressing a fusion of monomeric Kusabira Orange (mKO) fluorescent protein to human zyxin.