Actin conformation dynamics precede force generation in cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Actin conformation changes in cytotoxic T lymphocytes occur before force generation during migration and killing, highlighting a regulatory role in immune responses.

• Why it matters: Understanding how CTLs sense and exert force is crucial for comprehending immune cell function and could inform therapies targeting immune responses against cancer and infections.
• What they did: Researchers used actin conformation probes based on utrophin's CH domain and combined them with traction force microscopy to observe primary CTLs during migration and killing, analyzing the timing of actin dynamics and force exertion.
• The result: They found that actin conformation is regulated upstream of force production, with force exertion at the immune synapse following actin changes, providing new insights into cytoskeletal regulation of immune cell activity.