Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Actin Polymerization01:42

Actin Polymerization

8.6K
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...
8.6K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

6.6K
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....
6.6K
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

6.5K
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
6.5K
Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

18.7K
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
18.7K
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

4.8K
Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
4.8K
Actin Treadmilling01:18

Actin Treadmilling

9.7K
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...
9.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Non-linear Characterization of Commercial and Decellularized Hydrogels: Statistical Framework Enhanced by Bayesian Optimization.

Cellular and molecular bioengineering·2026
Same author

A 3D parametric model of the endothelial monolayer to predict its barrier integrity: Influence of mechanical and geometric conditions.

Computer methods and programs in biomedicine·2026
Same author

Periodic confined cell migration drives partially reversible chromatin reorganization in cancer cell lines.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Editorial: Integrating computational modeling and organoid technology for enhanced biological research.

Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology·2025
Same author

Mechanotherapy as an alternative for cancer treatment.

Physics of life reviews·2024
Same author

Exploring the potential of Physics-Informed Neural Networks to extract vascularization data from DCE-MRI in the presence of diffusion.

Medical engineering & physics·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes
12:15

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes

Published on: August 28, 2017

9.6K

Modelling actin polymerization: the effect on confined cell migration.

S Hervas-Raluy1, J M Garcia-Aznar1, M J Gomez-Benito2

  • 1Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Rio Ebro, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology
|March 8, 2019
PubMed
Summary

This study models confined cell migration, crucial for tumor and neutrophil movement. Smaller cell nuclei enhance migration speed, while increased adhesion to channel walls also boosts cell velocity.

Keywords:
Cancer metastasisCell migrationConfined migrationFinite elementsMechanical modelling

More Related Videos

High Throughput Fluorometric Technique for Assessment of Macrophage Phagocytosis and Actin Polymerization
09:22

High Throughput Fluorometric Technique for Assessment of Macrophage Phagocytosis and Actin Polymerization

Published on: November 27, 2014

15.2K
Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

12.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 28, 2026

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes
12:15

In Vitro Polymerization of F-actin on Early Endosomes

Published on: August 28, 2017

9.6K
High Throughput Fluorometric Technique for Assessment of Macrophage Phagocytosis and Actin Polymerization
09:22

High Throughput Fluorometric Technique for Assessment of Macrophage Phagocytosis and Actin Polymerization

Published on: November 27, 2014

15.2K
Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels
09:36

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

12.4K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Cell migration is vital for biological processes like immune response and tumor metastasis.
  • Mechanical confinement significantly influences cell motility, particularly during extravasation.
  • Understanding the forces governing cell migration under confinement is key to disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and implement a finite element model for simulating single-cell migration in confined environments.
  • To investigate the impact of nuclear properties and cell-wall adhesion on cell motility.
  • To analyze the roles of actin and myosin in the mechanical regulation of cell movement.

Main Methods:

  • Finite element modeling of a single cell with distinct cytoplasm and nucleus mechanical properties.
  • Inclusion of both filament and globular actin dynamics in the model.
  • Simulation of cell migration under varying degrees of mechanical confinement and adhesion.

Main Results:

  • Simulated migration speeds align with experimental observations (approx. 0.1 μm/min).
  • Smaller nucleus size significantly increases cell migration speed within confined channels.
  • Increased nucleus stiffness slightly reduces cell displacement, and higher adhesion enhances cell velocity.

Conclusions:

  • Cell nucleus size is a critical factor influencing migration dynamics in confined spaces.
  • Cell-wall adhesion plays a significant role in regulating the speed of confined cell migration.
  • The model provides insights into the biomechanics of cell motility relevant to cancer and inflammation.