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Related Concept Videos

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.
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...
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 13, 2026

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy
13:10

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: April 4, 2013

Guidance of cell migration by substrate dimension.

Stephanie S Chang1, Wei-hui Guo, Youngeun Kim

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Biophysical Journal
|February 28, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Migrating cells prefer 2D over 1D environments, sensing the substrate dimension through myosin-II-dependent forces. This dimension sensing is crucial for cell guidance in physiological functions and tissue engineering.

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Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy
13:10

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: April 4, 2013

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Cell migration is influenced by physical parameters like substrate rigidity, topography, and geometry.
  • Cells exhibit different behaviors in 1D, 2D, and 3D environments, suggesting they can sense dimensional cues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if migrating cells can sense the dimension of their environment.
  • To determine the mechanism by which cells sense substrate dimension.
  • To assess the role of dimension sensing in normal and transformed cells.

Main Methods:

  • NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on micropatterned substrates with alternating 1D and 2D paths.
  • Traction stress generated by cells on 1D and 2D surfaces was measured.
  • Myosin II was inhibited to assess its role in dimension sensing.
  • Mechanosensing of oncogene-transformed fibroblasts was compared to normal cells.

Main Results:

  • NIH 3T3 fibroblasts showed a preference for 2D over 1D substrates.
  • Cells generated stronger traction stress on 2D surfaces compared to 1D surfaces.
  • Inhibition of myosin II abolished the cells' sensitivity to substrate dimension.
  • Oncogene-transformed fibroblasts were defective in mechanosensing and did not differentiate between 1D and 2D surfaces.

Conclusions:

  • Migrating cells can sense substrate dimension, with a preference for 2D environments.
  • Myosin-II-dependent traction forces are critical for this dimension sensing.
  • Defective mechanosensing in transformed cells highlights the importance of dimension sensing in maintaining normal cellular function.
  • Dimension sensing plays a role in guiding cell migration for physiological processes and tissue engineering applications.