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Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

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.

The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles

The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles

In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...

Introduction to Actin

Introduction to Actin

Actin is a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein found abundantly in eukaryotic cells. It constitutes 10% weight of the total cellular protein in muscle cells, while in non-muscle cells, it is lower and makes up around 1–5 percent of the total cell protein. Actin found in the unicellular amoebae and complex multicellular animals is around 80% similar, demonstrating their conservation over a billion years of evolution. Actin coding genes are conserved within species and across different species.

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They are held...

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

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A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin

Published on: July 30, 2014

Actin: its cumbersome pilgrimage through cellular compartments.

Michael Schleicher¹, Brigitte M Jockusch

¹Adolf-Butenandt-Institute, Cell Biology and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80336, Munich, Germany.

Histochemistry and Cell Biology

|April 29, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This article traces the discovery and evolution of actin, a key eukaryotic protein. We explore its diverse functions and family, offering insights into its cellular roles and origins.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

Background:

Actin is a highly abundant and extensively studied protein in eukaryotic cells.
It plays critical roles in cellular structure, motility, and various intracellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a historical overview of actin's discovery and characterization.
To explore the diverse functions of actin, particularly its role as a dual-compartment protein.
To discuss current knowledge regarding actin's place within its protein family and speculate on its evolutionary origins.

Main Methods:

Historical review of scientific literature.
Analysis of structural and functional data.
Synthesis of current research on actin localization and function.

Main Results:

Actin's discovery and characterization have evolved significantly over time.
Actin exhibits a surprisingly diverse range of functions within the cell.
Actin is recognized as a member of a large protein family with complex evolutionary relationships.

Conclusions:

Actin's multifaceted nature and extensive study highlight its fundamental importance in eukaryotic cell biology.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms behind actin's diverse functions and its evolutionary history.