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Related Concept Videos

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

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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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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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Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

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The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
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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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Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

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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 Filament Depolymerization01:19

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Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Visualizing Actin and Microtubule Coupling Dynamics In Vitro by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence TIRF Microscopy
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Visualizing Actin and Microtubule Coupling Dynamics In Vitro by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence TIRF Microscopy

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Actin visualization at a glance.

Michael Melak1, Matthias Plessner1, Robert Grosse2

  • 1Institute of Pharmacology, Biochemical-Pharmacological Center (BPC), University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 1, Marburg 35043, Germany.

Journal of Cell Science
|January 14, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Visualizing cellular actin dynamics requires careful method selection. This study reviews techniques for observing actin structures in fixed and live cells, emphasizing minimal interference with actin polymerization and depolymerization cycles.

Keywords:
Actin dynamicsActin probesLive-cell imagingNuclear actin

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Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Actin polymerization into filaments drives numerous cellular processes.
  • Visualizing actin structures is crucial for understanding cellular functions.
  • Maintaining native actin dynamics during visualization is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate techniques for analyzing and visualizing cellular actin structures.
  • To highlight methods for actin visualization in both fixed and live cells.
  • To guide the selection of appropriate actin detection probes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established techniques including phalloidin staining for fixed samples.
  • Exploration of live-cell imaging methods utilizing fluorescent protein fusions (LifeAct, utrophin, F-tractin).
  • Discussion of anti-actin nanobody technology, SiR-actin, and GFP-actin expression.

Main Results:

  • Phalloidin serves as a gold standard for fixed F-actin staining.
  • Live-cell visualization often employs genetically fused actin-binding domains or nanobodies.
  • SiR-actin and GFP-actin offer additional live-cell analysis options.

Conclusions:

  • The choice of actin visualization method must consider the physiological context.
  • Minimizing probe influence on endogenous actin dynamics is critical.
  • Careful control of probe concentration or expression levels is necessary.