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Related Concept Videos

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
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Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
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Actin filaments undergo polymerization and depolymerization from either end. The polymerization and depolymerization rates depend on the cytosolic concentration of free G-actins. The polymerization rate is generally higher at the plus or barbed end, while the depolymerization rate is higher at the minus or pointed end. At a steady state, critical concentration describes the concentration of free G-actin monomers at which the polymerization rate at the plus end is equal to that of the...

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Electromechanical Assessment of Optogenetically Modulated Cardiomyocyte Activity
12:52

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Published on: March 5, 2020

An actin-based wave generator organizes cell motility.

Orion D Weiner1, William A Marganski, Lani F Wu

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America. orion.weiner@ucsf.edu

Plos Biology
|August 19, 2007
PubMed
Summary

The Scar/WAVE complex and actin dynamics drive cell motility through self-organizing waves. These waves organize cell shape and movement, particularly at the leading edge of immune cells.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Actin assembly regulators are known, but their collective organization of cell shape and movement remains unclear.
  • The Scar/WAVE complex is crucial for cell shape regulation in various organisms.
  • Understanding the spatial dynamics of Scar/WAVE is key to deciphering cell motility mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatial dynamics of the Scar/WAVE complex in organizing cell shape and movement.
  • To elucidate the reciprocal interactions between the Scar/WAVE complex and actin dynamics.
  • To propose a model for cell motility based on self-organizing actin waves.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the spatial dynamics of the Scar/WAVE complex, specifically its Hem-1/Nap1 component.
  • Observation of Scar/WAVE complex localization to propagating waves at the leading edge of human neutrophils.
  • Investigating the role of actin as both an output and input for Scar/WAVE complex function.

Main Results:

  • The Hem-1/Nap1 component of the Scar/WAVE complex localizes to propagating waves.
  • These waves appear to organize the leading edge of motile human neutrophils.
  • Reciprocal interactions between Scar/WAVE and actin generate waves of actin nucleation, mimicking cell morphogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Cell motility arises from the collective behavior of multiple self-organizing actin waves.
  • Propagated waves of actin nucleation are essential for cell shape and movement.
  • The Scar/WAVE complex and actin dynamics provide a framework for understanding cell motility and morphogenesis.