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Related Concept Videos

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

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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.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
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Actin Treadmilling01:18

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Actin filaments undergo polymerization and depolymerization from either end. The polymerization and depolymerization rates depend on the cytosolic concentration of free G-actins. The polymerization rate is generally higher at the plus or barbed end, while the depolymerization rate is higher at the minus or pointed end. At a steady state, critical concentration describes the concentration of free G-actin monomers at which the polymerization rate at the plus end is equal to that of the...
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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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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.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
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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.
The nucleation phase involves forming a stable nucleus consisting of three actin monomers to form a new actin filament. Actin-binding proteins such as formins and Arp2/3 complex help filament growth post-nucleation. The Formins form straight...
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Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

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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...
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A Time-Efficient Fluorescence Spectroscopy-Based Assay for Evaluating Actin Polymerization Status in Rodent and Human Brain Tissues
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Actin dynamics and the evolution of the memory trace.

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  • 1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, 345 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

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Actin dynamics are crucial for long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory. Its regulation across generation, stabilization, and consolidation stages shapes synaptic changes and memory persistence.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Synaptic plasticity underlies learning and memory.
  • Actin cytoskeleton dynamics are critical for synaptic structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To link actin dynamics regulation to the temporal stages of synaptic changes supporting long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory.
  • To elucidate the roles of actin cytoskeleton remodeling in memory formation and maintenance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of cellular and molecular processes involved in actin cytoskeleton regulation.
  • Analysis of the impact of actin dynamics on synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation.

Main Results:

  • Actin cytoskeleton degradation facilitates AMPA receptor insertion during LTP generation.
  • Stabilization and expansion of actin cytoskeleton are essential for maintaining potentiated synapses and memory.
  • Disrupting actin polymerization during stabilization leads to memory loss.

Conclusions:

  • Actin dynamics are regulated in distinct temporal stages (generation, stabilization, consolidation) during LTP and memory formation.
  • Post-translational modifications and protein synthesis stabilize and consolidate synaptic changes mediated by the actin cytoskeleton.
  • A stabilized actin cytoskeleton is necessary for capturing new molecules to maintain long-term memory.