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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.
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...
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 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...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin networks...
Introduction to Actin01:26

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
08:02

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles

Published on: May 5, 2022

Actin dynamics: from nanoscale to microscale.

Anders E Carlsson1

  • 1Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA. aec@wustl.edu

Annual Review of Biophysics
|May 14, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mathematical modeling quantifies actin dynamics in cells, linking molecular processes to cell edge assembly and internal disassembly. Further research is needed to fully understand rapid actin disassembly and polymerization patterns.

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Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
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Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

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Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins
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Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
08:02

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles

Published on: May 5, 2022

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
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Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

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Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins
08:40

Reconstitution of Actin-Based Motility with Commercially Available Proteins

Published on: October 28, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Actin dynamics, including polymerization and depolymerization, are fundamental to cellular processes.
  • Constant actin remodeling occurs at the cell edge and interior, with observed spontaneous oscillations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how mathematical modeling quantitatively relates actin dynamics to molecular processes.
  • To identify current limitations and future directions in understanding actin dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of mathematical modeling approaches applied to actin dynamics.
  • Analysis of quantitative measures of actin assembly, disassembly, and pattern formation.

Main Results:

  • Mathematical models have clarified aspects of actin assembly but limited understanding of rapid disassembly.
  • Models provide testable hypotheses for spontaneous actin waves and cell-edge oscillations.

Conclusions:

  • Quantitative understanding of actin dynamics requires further development of biomimetic systems.
  • Bridging molecular mechanisms with macroscopic cellular behaviors remains a key challenge.