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Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

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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.
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Introduction to Actin01:26

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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...
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Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

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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.
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Actin Polymerization01:42

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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.
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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.
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Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
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Updated: May 2, 2026

A Direct Force Probe for Measuring Mechanical Integration Between the Nucleus and the Cytoskeleton
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A Direct Force Probe for Measuring Mechanical Integration Between the Nucleus and the Cytoskeleton

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Formin' actin in the nucleus.

Christian Baarlink1, Robert Grosse1

  • 1Institute of Pharmacology, Biochemical-Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg; University of Marburg; Marburg, Germany.

Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)
|March 19, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Specific diaphanous-related formins can promote nuclear actin assembly. This actin assembly occurs in a signal-dependent manner, highlighting new roles for these proteins in the nucleus.

Keywords:
actin dynamicscytoskeletonforminsnuclear actinnuclear mDia

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Quantification of Filamentous Actin F-actin Puncta in Rat Cortical Neurons
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Proteins can translocate between cellular compartments like the cytoplasm and nucleus.
  • Actin regulatory proteins are found in the nucleus, but their functions are largely unknown.
  • Formins, a family of actin nucleators, have recently been observed in the nuclear environment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of diaphanous-related formins in nuclear actin assembly.
  • To determine if nuclear actin assembly by formins is regulated by cellular signals.

Main Methods:

  • Cellular localization studies
  • Biochemical assays for actin nucleation
  • Signal-dependent regulation experiments

Main Results:

  • Specific diaphanous-related formins were found to localize to the nucleus.
  • These formins were shown to promote actin assembly within the nucleus.
  • Nuclear actin assembly was dependent on specific cellular signaling cues.

Conclusions:

  • Diaphanous-related formins can actively assemble actin in the nucleus.
  • Nuclear actin assembly by formins is a regulated process influenced by signaling pathways.
  • These findings suggest novel functions for formins and nuclear actin in mammalian cells.