Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
Published on: May 5, 2022
Actin Filament Structures in Migrating Cells
Jaakko Lehtimäki1, Markku Hakala1, Pekka Lappalainen2
1Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract:
Cell migration is necessary for several developmental processes in multicellular organisms. Furthermore, many physiological processes such as wound healing and immunological events in adult animals are dependent on cell migration. Consequently, defects in cell migration are linked to various diseases including immunological disorders as well as cancer progression and metastasis formation. Cell migration is driven by specific protrusive and contractile actin filament structures, but the types and relative contributions of these actin filament arrays vary depending on the cell type and the environment of the cell. In this chapter, we introduce the most important actin filament structures that contribute to mesenchymal and amoeboid cell migration modes and discuss the mechanisms by which the assembly and turnover of these structures are controlled by various actin-binding proteins.
Related Concept Videos
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
Cell Migration
Cell Migration
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration
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....

