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Related Concept Videos

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins01:21

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Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
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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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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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Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
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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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The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
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Deterministic actin waves as generators of cell polarization cues.

Luiza Stankevicins1, Nicolas Ecker2,3, Emmanuel Terriac1

  • 1Bio Interfaces, Leibniz Institute for New Materials, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 29, 2019
PubMed
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Dendritic cells exhibit two distinct migration patterns: persistent and diffusive. These patterns are controlled by actin polymerization waves, allowing cells to adapt their search for pathogens.

Keywords:
Arp2/3actin wavesamoeboid migrationdendritic cellsrandom cell trajectories

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology and Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Dendritic cells are crucial for immune surveillance, patrolling the body via amoeboid migration.
  • The efficiency of pathogen detection relies on the properties of dendritic cell random walk migration.
  • Mechanisms controlling dendritic cell migration patterns remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify dendritic cell migration dynamics in 2D and 3D environments.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms controlling dendritic cell movement patterns.
  • To investigate how dendritic cells adapt their migration for pathogen detection.

Main Methods:

  • Long-term trajectory recording of dendritic cells in 2D confinement and 3D collagen matrices.
  • Analysis of migration states: persistent (curved paths) and diffusive (sharp turns).
  • Investigation of actin distribution differences between migration states.

Main Results:

  • Identified two distinct dendritic cell migration states: persistent and diffusive.
  • Observed differences in actin distribution correlating with migration states.
  • Demonstrated that actin polymerization waves can generate these migration patterns.
  • Showed that altering actin nucleation/assembly rates modifies the balance between migration states.

Conclusions:

  • Dendritic cells can control their migration patterns through actin dynamics.
  • Spontaneous actin polymerization waves are key to dendritic cell polarization and migration.
  • Dendritic cells adapt their migration strategies to suit different environmental contexts.
  • This study provides insights into how dendritic cells optimize pathogen searches.