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Related Concept Videos

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

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A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
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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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Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

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Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
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....
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Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

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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.
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Cell Migration01:19

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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.
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Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

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Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
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Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy
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Actin dynamics in cell migration.

Matthias Schaks1,2, Grégory Giannone3,4, Klemens Rottner1,2

  • 1Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, Braunschweig 38106, Germany.

Essays in Biochemistry
|September 26, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell migration relies on actin filament dynamics to generate membrane protrusions like lamellipodia and filopodia. Rho GTPase signaling pathways intricately control these actin-based structures and cell motility modes.

Keywords:
Arp2/3WRCactin assemblycontractionforminprotrusion

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cell migration is fundamental for unicellular and multicellular organisms.
  • Actin filament dynamics drive cell motility through protrusive and contractile forces.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize actin filament assembly and turnover in cell migration.
  • To explain how biochemical activities generate distinct actin-based membrane protrusions.
  • To propose a model for Rho GTPase signaling in dictating cell protrusion types and migration modes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of actin dynamics and cell migration mechanisms.
  • Analysis of actin-related protein 2/3 complex-dependent structures (lamellipodia, membrane ruffles).
  • Examination of filopodia and plasma membrane blebs as protrusion types.

Main Results:

  • Identified key actin-based plasma membrane protrusions: lamellipodia, membrane ruffles, filopodia, and blebs.
  • Highlighted antagonism between different protrusion types.
  • Proposed a Rho GTPase-centric model balancing signaling pathways to dictate cell protrusion and migration.

Conclusions:

  • Actin filament assembly and turnover are crucial for cell migration.
  • Rho GTPase signaling networks, particularly Rac and Rho antagonism, define cell behavior and migration modes.
  • Actin network assembly provides feedback to regulators, controlling protrusion dynamics.