LITHIUM IONS MODIFY THE ARCHITECTURE OF FILAMIN-INDUCED ACTIN NETWORKS

In eukaryotic cells, extensive networks of crosslinked actin filaments drive most of the cardinal cytoplasmic events. Within actin scaffoldi ngs, the filament spatial organization could vary as a function of the cell type as well as the cellular function having to be supported. Co nsidering that lithium ions influence both the assembly and the side t o side association of actin filaments, we investigated their influence on the spatial organization of filamin/actin networks. Lithium seems to modify the architecture of filamin-induced actin scaffoldings by re ducing the average size of their characteristic quadrangular meshes. I n considering the Niederman's model of filamin-induced actin network f ormation, we suggest that lithium ions modify the architecture of fila min/actin frames by simply enhancing the concentration of actin polyme rization nuclei during actin assembly. The possible, close relationshi p between lithium cytoskeletal influence and its therapeutic activity is suggested.