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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 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...
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...
Non-conservative Forces01:17

Non-conservative Forces

Non-conservative forces are dissipative forces such as friction or air resistance. These forces take energy away from a system as it progresses. Unlike conservative forces, non-conservative forces do not have potential energy associated with them. This is because the energy is lost to the system and cannot be turned into useful work later.
Also unlike their conservative counterparts, they are path-dependent; where the object starts and stops does matter. For example, a grinding wheel applies a...
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-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Analyses of Actin Dynamics, Clutch Coupling and Traction Force for Growth Cone Advance
07:53

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

Published on: October 21, 2021

Growth cones as soft and weak force generators.

Timo Betz1, Daniel Koch, Yun-Bi Lu

  • 1Division of Soft Matter Physics, Department of Physics, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstrasse 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. timo.betz@curie.fr

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Growth cones exhibit liquid-like behavior over longer timescales and elastic properties at shorter timescales, with a low elastic modulus. These findings reveal growth cones as soft structures sensitive to their environment.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Neuronal growth is regulated by biochemical processes impacting growth cone biomechanics.
  • Growth cone biomechanics, including stiffness and force generation, are crucial for neuronal development but remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical and structural properties of growth cones.
  • To correlate actin dynamics and traction force generation with growth cone biomechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Combined experimental approaches to measure growth cone properties.
  • Utilized physical relations to determine internal forces from actin cytoskeleton dynamics.
  • Measured actin dynamics, traction force generation, and structural/mechanical properties simultaneously.

Main Results:

  • Growth cones exhibit liquid-like behavior at timescales longer than 8.5 seconds.
  • At shorter timescales, growth cones behave elastically with a low elastic modulus (106 ± 21 Pa).
  • Internal stress was determined to be approximately 30 pN/μm², consistent with traction force measurements.

Conclusions:

  • Growth cones are soft and weak structures.
  • Their mechanical properties are highly sensitive to the surrounding environment.
  • Understanding growth cone biomechanics is key to understanding neuronal growth and guidance.