Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
10:54
Quantitative Analysis of Cell Edge Dynamics during Cell Spreading
Published on: May 22, 2021
Filamins regulate cell spreading and initiation of cell migration.
Massimiliano Baldassarre1, Ziba Razinia, Clara F Burande
1Department of Pharmacology and Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Plos One
|November 17, 2009
Summary
Mammalian filamins (FLNs) are crucial for cell migration and spreading. Loss of multiple FLNs impairs cell motility initiation, highlighting their collective role.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Mammalian filamins (FLNs) are large actin-binding proteins.
- FLNa was previously linked to cell migration and neuronal disorders.
- Recent studies questioned FLNa's role in cell migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of filamins (FLNs) in mammalian cell migration and spreading.
- To determine if FLNa and FLNb redundancy masks individual protein functions.
- To identify specific filamin domains critical for cell motility.
Main Methods:
- shRNA-mediated knockdown of FLNa and/or FLNb.
- Acute proteasomal degradation of all three FLNs.
- Assessment of cell migration, spreading, and motility initiation.
- Re-expression of full-length and mutated FLNa.
Main Results:
- Individual knockdown of FLNa or FLNb had minimal impact on cell migration.
- Combined knockdown of FLNa and FLNb, or degradation of all FLNs, significantly impaired cell migration and spreading.
- The primary defect was in migration initiation, not speed.
- Re-expression of FLNa restored cell spreading and migration initiation, but a mutant lacking immunoglobulin domains 19-21 did not.
Conclusions:
- Filamins play a collective role in cell migration and spreading, with functional compensation among family members.
- Immunoglobulin domains 19-21 of FLNa are critical for mediating interactions essential for cell spreading and migration initiation.
- FLN interactions with transmembrane or signaling proteins are vital for these processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:39Mechanism 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.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
01:13Actin 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.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
01:09Cell Migration
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
01:19Cell Migration
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
01:31Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
01:18Role 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.
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...