Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

16.6K
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.
16.6K
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

6.1K
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.
6.1K
Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration01:21

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

5.0K
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...
5.0K
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

4.9K
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...
4.9K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

5.8K
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....
5.8K
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

2.8K
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....
2.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Quantitative 3D histology reveals localized immune remodeling during early pancreatic cancer progression.

Cell press blue·2026
Same author

3D multi-omics tumour atlases: from technology to biology and clinical translation.

Nature reviews. Cancer·2026
Same author

Particle tracking microrheology of cancer cells in living subjects.

Materials today (Kidlington, England)·2026
Same author

Distinct senescent β-cell senotypes differentially drive islet aging and dysfunction.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Spatial Regulation of CAR Signaling Enables Logic-Gated Activity.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Virtual multiplex staining of the pancreatic islets across type 1 diabetes progression using a Schrödinger bridge.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Chemotactic self-organization captures the dynamics of mammalian hair follicle patterning.

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

Tomographic imaging of superconducting order using particle-hole interference.

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

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir.

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

Inferring epidemiological parameters under an infectious phylogeography model with visitor dynamics.

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

Analytical modeling for suction cup designs for skin-interfaced wearable devices.

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

Improving cell-free metabolism through direct integration of artificial respiratory chains.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration
11:43

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

Published on: April 3, 2015

8.0K

Three-dimensional cell migration does not follow a random walk.

Pei-Hsun Wu1, Anjil Giri, Sean X Sun

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 6, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell migration in 3D environments is complex and not random. This study reveals cell heterogeneity and matrix interactions drive anisotropic movement, improving models for tissue development and disease.

Keywords:
3D motilitycancertheory

More Related Videos

Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy
07:27

Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy

Published on: May 13, 2012

16.3K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
06:42

Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration

Published on: May 24, 2024

2.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration
11:43

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

Published on: April 3, 2015

8.0K
Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy
07:27

Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy

Published on: May 13, 2012

16.3K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
06:42

Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration

Published on: May 24, 2024

2.1K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biomathematics

Background:

  • Cell migration is crucial for tissue development and disease progression.
  • Existing analytical tools for characterizing 3D cell migration are insufficient.
  • Understanding 3D cell motility is vital for biological and medical research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify and characterize individual fibrosarcoma cell migration patterns in 2D and 3D environments.
  • To develop an improved model for 3D cell migration.
  • To identify key factors influencing cell motility in complex matrices.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of individual fibrosarcoma cell migration on 2D substrates and within 3D collagen matrices.
  • Development and application of a modified persistent random walk (PRW) model incorporating cell heterogeneity and anisotropy.
  • Investigation of cell migration across a range of matrix densities.

Main Results:

  • 3D cell migration deviates from random walk patterns, exhibiting non-Gaussian velocity distributions.
  • Cell migration in 3D matrices is anisotropic, with direction-dependent speed and correlation.
  • A modified PRW model accurately predicts 3D cell motility and reveals density-independent migratory properties.
  • A robust relationship between cell speed and migration persistence was observed across matrix densities.

Conclusions:

  • Classical persistent random walk (PRW) models are inadequate for describing 3D cell migration.
  • Cell heterogeneity and local matrix anisotropy are critical determinants of 3D cell motility.
  • The developed model enhances the prediction of cell migration in complex 3D environments, offering insights into tissue development and disease mechanisms.