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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Quantifying Cytoskeleton Dynamics Using Differential Dynamic Microscopy
Published on: June 15, 2022
2D and 3D quantitative analysis of cell motility and cytoskeletal dynamics
Deborah Wessels1, Spencer Kuhl, David R Soll
1Keck Dynamic Image Analysis Facility, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Abstract:
2D- and 3D-Dynamic Image Analysis Systems (2D- and 3D-DIAS) for quantitative analysis of cell motility and chemotaxis are described. Particular attention is given to protocols that have proven useful in the quantitation of cell shape changes and pseudopod dynamics during basic cell motility (i.e. crawling in the absence of a chemotactic or other type of extracellular signal) and directed motion. In addition, methods provided, highlight the applicability of this approach to the accurate phenotypic characterizations of cytoskeletal mutations in Dictyostelium discoideum, cytoskeletal alterations in metastatic cells, and cytoskeletal defects in chemotactically defective polymorphonuclear neutrophils.
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