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 scaffoldings, the filament spatial organization could vary as a function of the cell type as well as the cellular function having to be supported. Considering that lithium ions influence both the assembly and the side to 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 reducing the average size of their characteristic quadrangular meshes. In considering the Niederman's model of filamin-induced actin network formation, we suggest that lithium ions modify the architecture of filamin/actin frames by simply enhancing the concentration of actin polymerization nuclei during actin assembly. The possible, close relationship between lithium cytoskeletal influence and its therapeutic activity is suggested.