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Related Concept Videos

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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Actin Polymerization01:42

Actin Polymerization

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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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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).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
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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.
The high-order actin...
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Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

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Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
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Measuring Protein Binding to F-actin by Co-sedimentation
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The actin cortex at a glance.

Priyamvada Chugh1,2, Ewa K Paluch1,2,3

  • 1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK priyamvada.chugh.12@alumni.ucl.ac.uk e.paluch@ucl.ac.uk.

Journal of Cell Science
|July 21, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell deformations, crucial for development and disease, are controlled by the actomyosin cortex. This network

Keywords:
ActinCell shapeCellular cortexContractilityMechanics

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cell deformations are vital for processes like migration, division, and morphogenesis.
  • The cellular cortex, an actomyosin network, drives these shape changes in animal cells.
  • Cortical tension, generated by myosin forces, dictates cellular deformations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of the cortex's composition and organization.
  • To discuss how microscopic cortex properties influence cortical tension.
  • To highlight the regulation of cortical tension in cell and tissue morphogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on cortex composition and organization.
  • Analysis of molecular control mechanisms of cortical tension.
  • Discussion of the relationship between cortex properties and tension generation.

Main Results:

  • Recent research has significantly advanced understanding of cortex composition and organization.
  • Microscopic properties of the cortex are shown to control cortical tension.
  • Cortical tension is modulated by both cortex composition and organization.

Conclusions:

  • Cortical tension is a key cellular property regulated at multiple levels.
  • Modulation of cortex composition and organization provides regulatory control over cortical tension.
  • Understanding cortical tension is crucial for cell and tissue morphogenesis, development, and disease progression.