Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell Migration

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 Migration

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 Migration

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...

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

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 Forces

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...

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Advanced Characterization of Plastron on Cassie-Baxter Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Drop Adhesion Force.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026

Same author

Immune cells employ intermittent integrin-mediated traction forces for 3D migration.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Prediction and prevention of ventilation impairments during bronchoscopy.

Intensive care medicine experimental·2025

Same author

Compression-Tension-Asymmetry and Stiffness Nonlinearity of Collagen-Matrigel Composite Hydrogels.

Advanced healthcare materials·2025

Same author

Osmotic pressure induces unexpected relaxation of contractile 3D microtissue.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2025

Same author

Differences in ventilatory muscle recruitment and work of breathing in COPD and interstitial lung disease.

ERJ open research·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

Published on: April 3, 2015

Cell and tissue mechanics in cell migration.

Janina R Lange¹, Ben Fabry

¹Department of Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen 91052, Germany.

Experimental Cell Research

|May 14, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cell migration involves traction forces against resistance. Increased stiffness can enhance cell migration via acto-myosin feedback, crucial for collective and 3D movement.

Keywords:

Acto-myosin interaction Cell mechanics Cell migration Hill-curve Mechanotransduction Tissue mechanics

More Related Videos

Analysis of Cell Migration within a Three-dimensional Collagen Matrix

Analysis of Cell Migration within a Three-dimensional Collagen Matrix

Published on: October 5, 2014

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

Published on: April 3, 2015

Analysis of Cell Migration within a Three-dimensional Collagen Matrix

Analysis of Cell Migration within a Three-dimensional Collagen Matrix

Published on: October 5, 2014

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

Area of Science:

Cellular mechanics
Biophysics
Developmental biology

Background:

Cells generate traction forces to overcome resistance from internal stresses and matrix adhesions during migration.
External stresses contribute to resistance in collective and 3D cell migration scenarios.
Cell and matrix stiffness influence movement-resisting forces.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of mechanical feedback in cell migration.
To explore how cell and matrix stiffness impact migration dynamics.
To understand the contribution of acto-myosin contractility to stiffness sensing and collective migration.

Main Methods:

Analysis of cellular traction forces.
Modeling of cell-matrix interactions.
Investigation of acto-myosin contractile machinery dynamics.

Main Results:

Increased stiffness leads to larger movement-resisting forces but can also promote migration.
A mechanical feedback loop involving forces, deformations, and speed, mediated by acto-myosin, is identified.
This feedback mechanism is vital for stiffness sensing, durotaxis, plithotaxis, and collective cell migration.

Conclusions:

Cell migration is a complex process influenced by mechanical forces and stiffness.
Acto-myosin contractility plays a key role in mediating the relationship between stiffness and migration.
Understanding these mechanical feedbacks is essential for comprehending various cell migration behaviors.