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Related Concept Videos

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

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...
Cell Migration01:09

Cell 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.
Cell Migration01:19

Cell 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.
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...
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role 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...
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...

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Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration
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Published on: April 3, 2015

Cytoskeleton networks in basement membrane transmigration.

Marie Schoumacher1, Daniel Louvard, Danijela Vignjevic

  • 1UMR144/CNRS, Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France. marie.schoumacher@curie.fr

European Journal of Cell Biology
|July 9, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Cancer cells invade tissues by crossing the basement membrane (BM) in a conserved three-stage process. This review details the mechanisms and in vitro assays for studying cancer cell BM transmigration.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The basement membrane (BM) is a critical barrier maintaining tissue homeostasis.
  • BM transmigration is a conserved process observed in development, immunity, and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of invasive cancer cell transmigration through the basement membrane.
  • To highlight the role of cytoskeleton components in this process.
  • To describe in vitro assays for studying basement membrane transmigration.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on cancer cell invasion and basement membrane transmigration.
  • Analysis of conserved three-stage BM transmigration process.
  • Discussion of key cytoskeleton components involved in invasion.

Main Results:

  • Basement membrane transmigration involves cell protrusion formation, elongation, and infiltration.
  • Cytoskeleton dynamics are crucial for invasive cancer cell movement through the BM.
  • Various in vitro assays can model different stages of BM transmigration.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding cancer cell basement membrane transmigration mechanisms is vital for developing anti-invasion therapies.
  • In vitro models provide valuable tools for dissecting the steps of basement membrane barrier crossing.
  • Targeting cytoskeleton components offers potential strategies to inhibit cancer metastasis.