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Encyclopedia of Systems Biology pp 8Cite as

Actomyosin Ring

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Synonyms

Contractile actomyosin ring (CAR); Contractile ring

Definition

The actomyosin ring is the most archetypical structure of cytokinesis. The ring contains actin filaments cross-linked by the motor protein type II MYOSIN as well as numerous other actin cytoskeletal components. Constriction of the actomyosin ring results in furrow ingression and cytokinesis. The precise mechanisms that connect the contractile ring to the cell membrane are still not clear (Eggert et al. 2006). The ingression force generated by this structure has been traditionally explained through the “purse and string” model (Schroeder 1972) whereby bipolar myosin filaments walk along actin filaments to bring about constriction of the ring in a manner similar to muscle constriction. As constriction proceeds, acting filaments are disassembled and as a result the thickness of the contractile ring remains approximately constant.

Cross-References

Cytokinesis

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References

  • Eggert US, Mitchinson TJ, Field CM (2006) Animal cytokinesis: from parts list to mechanisms. Annu Rev Biochem 75:543–566

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder TE (1972) The contractile ring: II. Determining its brief existence, volumetric changes, and vital role in cleaving Arbacia eggs. J Cell Biol 53:419–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655-0122, USA

    Sebastian Mana-Capelli & Dr. Dannel McCollum

Authors
  1. Sebastian Mana-Capelli
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  2. Dr. Dannel McCollum
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dannel McCollum .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK

    Werner Dubitzky

  2. Department of Computer Science, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Olaf Wolkenhauer

  3. Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Kwang-Hyun Cho

  4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

    Hiroki Yokota

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Mana-Capelli, S., McCollum, D. (2013). Actomyosin Ring. In: Dubitzky, W., Wolkenhauer, O., Cho, KH., Yokota, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Systems Biology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9863-7_779

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