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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.
Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration01:21

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon towards...
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...
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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events
08:30

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Published on: August 27, 2019

Complex stiffness gradient substrates for studying mechanotactic cell migration.

Cheng-Hwa R Kuo1, Jian Xian, James D Brenton

  • 1Biological and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 20, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers created 2D stiffness gradients in polyacrylamide gels using topographical supports. Fibroblasts preferentially migrated to and accumulated in areas of the gel with a thickness below 15 micrometers, indicating a response to stiffness cues.

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Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses
07:45

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses

Published on: March 25, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events
08:30

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Published on: August 27, 2019

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses
07:45

Simple Polyacrylamide-based Multiwell Stiffness Assay for the Study of Stiffness-dependent Cell Responses

Published on: March 25, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Cell Biology
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Polyacrylamide gels are widely used to mimic tissue mechanics.
  • Cell migration is influenced by substrate stiffness.
  • Controlled stiffness gradients are essential for studying cell behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method for creating 2D stiffness gradients in polyacrylamide gels.
  • To investigate fibroblast migration in response to these engineered stiffness gradients.

Main Methods:

  • Casting polyacrylamide gels on stiff supports with controlled topography.
  • Utilizing topographical profiles to create 2D stiffness gradients.
  • Observing and quantifying fibroblast accumulation in relation to gel thickness and stiffness.

Main Results:

  • Successfully fabricated polyacrylamide gels with variable heights and projected stiffness maps.
  • Demonstrated controlled linear and non-linear 2D stiffness gradients.
  • Observed significant fibroblast accumulation in regions with gel thickness below 15 micrometers.

Conclusions:

  • Engineered topographical supports can effectively create 2D stiffness gradients in polyacrylamide gels.
  • Fibroblast migration is directed by substrate stiffness, with accumulation occurring at specific thickness/stiffness thresholds.