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Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

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 Filament Depolymerization

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...

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

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...

Actin Polymerization

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...

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Mechanism 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...

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

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

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

Published on: May 5, 2022

Actin filament segmentation using dynamic programming.

Hongsheng Li¹, Tian Shen, Xiaolei Huang

¹Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Lehigh University, USA.

Information Processing in Medical Imaging : Proceedings of the ... Conference

|July 19, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents a new algorithm for segmenting actin filaments in microscopy images. The method accurately tracks dynamic filament shapes in noisy images, improving biological research.

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Analyses of Actin Dynamics, Clutch Coupling and Traction Force for Growth Cone Advance

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Last Updated: May 31, 2026

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

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Published on: May 5, 2022

Analyses of Actin Dynamics, Clutch Coupling and Traction Force for Growth Cone Advance

Analyses of Actin Dynamics, Clutch Coupling and Traction Force for Growth Cone Advance

Published on: October 21, 2021

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics
Image Analysis

Background:

Actin filaments are crucial for cell motility and structure.
Segmenting dynamic actin filaments in Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRFM) microscopy is challenging due to shape changes and image noise.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel, robust algorithm for segmenting actin filaments in 2D TIRFM image sequences.
To accurately track the dynamic changes in actin filament morphology over time.

Main Methods:

A user-guided approach where filament tips are identified in the first frame.
Modeling segmentation as a temporal chain with tip locations as states.
Employing dynamic programming to infer filament body points from candidate tip locations.
Optimizing the temporal chain model using a secondary dynamic programming method.

Main Results:

The algorithm accurately segments actin filaments in noisy 2D TIRFM image sequences.
Demonstrated robustness in tracking dynamic filament shape changes.
Achieved high accuracy in segmentation even with significant image noise.

Conclusions:

The novel algorithm provides an accurate and robust solution for actin filament segmentation in TIRFM imaging.
This method enhances the analysis of dynamic cellular processes involving actin cytoskeleton.
The approach is valuable for quantitative studies in cell biology and biophysics.