Fig. 3: The unique remodeling of the cytoskeleton represents the adaptiveness of stem cells to their environment, shaping their differentiation responses.
Similar to tracking of genetic markers that provide a fingerprint in time for processes of stem cell differentiation5,39, remodeling of actin (green) (a) and tubulin (red) cytoskeleton (b) correlates to incipient differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Regulation of actin and tubulin de-/polymerization results in specific spatiotemporal patterns of their fibers (shape, size, distribution, organization), reflecting the cells’ adaptation of structure and function to their prevailing mechanical and biochemical milieux4 (refs. 116; 130; 202; 203; 204; 19; and 117). In turn, changes in gene regulation and cytoskeletal remodeling scale up to create spatiotemporal patterns of tissues with specific architectures and functions205.
