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Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
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.
Actin Polymerization01:42

Actin Polymerization

Actin polymerization occurs through the head-to-tail association of binding sites on monomeric actin or G-actin to form filamentous or F-actin. The polymerization can be divided into three phases ̶  nucleation, elongation, and steady-state phase.
The nucleation phase involves forming a stable nucleus consisting of three actin monomers to form a new actin filament. Actin-binding proteins such as formins and Arp2/3 complex help filament growth post-nucleation. The Formins form straight actin...
Actin Filament Depolymerization01:19

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
Actin Treadmilling01:18

Actin Treadmilling

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...
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Probing Myosin Ensemble Mechanics in Actin Filament Bundles Using Optical Tweezers
06:53

Probing Myosin Ensemble Mechanics in Actin Filament Bundles Using Optical Tweezers

Published on: May 4, 2022

Probing the actin-auxin oscillator.

Peter Nick1

  • 1Molecular Cell Biology, Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany. peter.nick@bio.uni-karlsruhe.de

Plant Signaling & Behavior
|December 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Plant hormone auxin transport relies on actin filaments. Manipulating actin organization in tobacco and rice cells revealed a regulatory circuit between auxin transport and actin, crucial for plant growth.

Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Polar auxin transport is vital for plant development.
  • Auxin-efflux carriers cycle between the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments.
  • The role of actin filaments in this cycling and auxin transport polarity is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of actin organization in polar auxin transport.
  • To explore the relationship between actin dynamics and auxin flux.
  • To elucidate the self-referring regulatory circuit between auxin transport and actin.

Main Methods:

  • Overexpression of the actin-binding domain of talin to induce actin bundling in tobacco BY-2 cells and rice plants.
  • Inducing actin bundling and observing its reversion upon auxin addition.

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Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy
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Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy

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The Mechanics of (Poro-)Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton
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The Mechanics of (Poro-)Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Probing Myosin Ensemble Mechanics in Actin Filament Bundles Using Optical Tweezers
06:53

Probing Myosin Ensemble Mechanics in Actin Filament Bundles Using Optical Tweezers

Published on: May 4, 2022

Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy
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Dissecting Mechanoenzymatic Properties of Processive Myosins with Ultrafast Force-Clamp Spectroscopy

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The Mechanics of (Poro-)Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton
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The Mechanics of (Poro-)Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

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  • Using photoactivated release of caged auxin in tobacco cells to manipulate auxin gradients.

    • Main Results:

    • Actin bundling disrupted normal auxin transport.
    • Addition of exogenous auxins reverted actin organization and restored auxin-dependent functions.
    • Subcellular manipulation of auxin gradients was achieved using photoactivation.

    Conclusions:

    • Actin organization is essential for polar auxin transport.
    • A self-referring regulatory circuit exists between polar auxin transport and actin organization.
    • This circuit acts as an 'actin-auxin oscillator' regulating plant hormone transport.