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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...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

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 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...
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...
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...
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: May 27, 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

Formins filter modified actin subunits during processive elongation.

Qian Chen1, Shalini Nag, Thomas D Pollard

  • 1Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, P.O. Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA.

Journal of Structural Biology
|November 8, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fission yeast formin Cdc12p rejects tagged actin subunits, preventing their incorporation into the contractile ring. This finding highlights stringent structural requirements for actin dynamics during cell division.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 27, 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

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes
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In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes

Published on: August 28, 2017

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
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Fission yeast cytokinesis relies on the actin contractile ring.
  • Previous attempts to study actin dynamics using fluorescently tagged actin failed due to rejection by the contractile ring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method for visualizing actin dynamics within the fission yeast contractile ring.
  • To investigate the structural requirements of formin Cdc12p for actin filament elongation.

Main Methods:

  • Introduced a tetracysteine tag (FLNCCPGCCMEP) into the fission yeast actin gene at multiple locations.
  • Expressed tagged actin in diploid cells alongside wild-type actin.
  • Labeled tagged actin in live cells using the FlAsH reagent.

Main Results:

  • Tagged actin was incorporated into actin patches at endocytic sites.
  • No tagged actin was incorporated into the contractile ring.
  • Formin Cdc12p demonstrated a rejection of actin subunits with a tag of approximately 2 kDa.

Conclusions:

  • Formin Cdc12p has stringent structural requirements for elongating actin filaments.
  • The rejection of tagged actin by Cdc12p provides insights into the mechanism of cytokinesis and actin dynamics.