Tuft cells are a rare epithelial cell type that play important roles in sensing and responding to luminal antigens. A defining morphological feature of this lineage is the actin-rich apical "tuft," which contains large fingerlike protrusions. However, details of the cytoskeletal ultrastructure underpinning the tuft, the molecules involved in building this structure, or how it supports tuft cell biology remain unclear. In the context of the small intestine, we found that tuft cell protrusions are supported by long-core bundles that consist of F-actin crosslinked in a parallel and polarized configuration; they also contain a tuft cell-specific complement of actin-binding proteins that exhibit regionalized localization along the bundle axis. Remarkably, in the sub-apical cytoplasm, the array of core actin bundles interdigitates and co-aligns with a highly ordered network of microtubules. The resulting cytoskeletal superstructure is well positioned to support subcellular transport and, in turn, the dynamic sensing functions of the tuft cell that are critical for intestinal homeostasis.

中文翻译：

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在肠簇状细胞的顶端结构中组织细胞骨架上部结构。


Tuft 细胞是一种罕见的上皮细胞类型，在感应和响应管腔抗原方面起重要作用。该谱系的一个定义形态特征是富含肌动蛋白的顶端“簇”，其中包含大的指状突起。然而，支撑簇状细胞的细胞骨架超微结构、参与构建该结构的分子或它如何支持簇状细胞生物学的细节仍不清楚。在小肠的背景下，我们发现簇状细胞突起由长核束支撑，这些束由平行和极化构型的 F-肌动蛋白交联组成;它们还包含一簇细胞特异性肌动蛋白结合蛋白补体，这些补体沿束轴表现出区域化定位。值得注意的是，在顶端下细胞质中，核心肌动蛋白束阵列与高度有序的微管网络交叉并共同对齐。由此产生的细胞骨架上结构可以很好地支持亚细胞运输，进而支持对肠道稳态至关重要的簇状细胞的动态传感功能。