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The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
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Tuning the Contractility and Deformation Modes of Active Actin-Based Assemblies In Vitro: From Two-Dimensional Active Networks to Liquid Crystal Drops
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Membrane bending by actin polymerization.

Anders E Carlsson1

  • 1Department of Physics, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1105, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|December 6, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Actin polymerization drives cell membrane invagination during endocytosis, especially under high tension. Research models and experiments reveal how actin forces shape cell entry processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Actin polymerization powers membrane-pulling processes like endocytosis, phagocytosis, and viral entry.
  • Actin's role is critical in endocytosis under high membrane tension or turgor pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a perspective on recent findings regarding actin polymerization in endocytosis.
  • To suggest future research directions in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent modeling efforts on actin forces and shape dynamics.
  • Analysis of experimental data detailing endocytic machinery and feedback interactions.

Main Results:

  • Modeling shows actin polymerization generates force distributions affecting endocytic site shape dynamics.
  • Experiments reveal detailed endocytic machinery structure and actin-membrane curvature feedback.

Conclusions:

  • Actin polymerization is a key driver of membrane invagination in endocytosis.
  • Further research should explore the interplay between actin dynamics, membrane mechanics, and cellular entry mechanisms.