Preciado López M Huber F Grigoriev I Steinmetz MO Akhmanova A Koenderink GH Dogterom M 2014 To power dynamic processes in cells, the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons organize into complex structures. Although it is known that cytoskeletal coordination is vital for cell function, the mechanisms by which cross-linking proteins coordinate actin and microtubule activities remain poorly understood. In particular, it is unknown how the distinct mechanical properties of different actin architectures modulate the outcome of actin-microtubule interactions. To address this question, we engineered the protein TipAct, which links growing microtubule ends via end-binding proteins to actin filaments. We show that growing microtubules can be captured and guided by stiff actin bundles, leading to global actin-microtubule alignment. Conversely, growing microtubule ends can transport, stretch and bundle individual actin filaments, thereby globally defining actin filament organization. Our results provide a physical basis to understand actin-microtubule cross-talk, and reveal that a simple cross-linker can enable a mechanical feedback between actin and microtubule organization that is relevant to diverse biological contexts. application/pdf https://sonar.ch/global/documents/44695 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1038/ncomms5778 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/25159196 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Nature communications. - 2014 Actin Cytoskeleton Actins Escherichia coli Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching Green Fluorescent Proteins Microtubule-Associated Proteins Microtubules Recombinant Proteins Actin-microtubule coordination at growing microtubule ends. http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501