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

Introduction to Actin01:26

Introduction to Actin

5.7K
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...
5.7K
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

3.2K
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...
3.2K
Actin Polymerization01:42

Actin Polymerization

7.5K
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...
7.5K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

5.9K
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....
5.9K
Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

3.3K
The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
3.3K
Actin Treadmilling01:18

Actin Treadmilling

8.8K
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...
8.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

AI-derived prognostic biomarkers from melanoma whole slide image segmentation: an initial discovery and assessment.

The journal of pathology. Clinical research·2026
Same author

Perspective on Interdisciplinary Approaches on Chemotaxis.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025
Same author

TriDeNT : Triple deep network training for privileged knowledge distillation in histopathology.

Medical image analysis·2025
Same author

The Development and Evaluation of a Convolutional Neural Network for Cutaneous Melanoma Detection in Whole Slide Images.

Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine·2024
Same author

Chemotaxis Assay of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2024
Same author

Single-sample image-fusion upsampling of fluorescence lifetime images.

Science advances·2024
Same journal

Hunting ecology predicts eye arrangements in the modular visual system of spiders.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Sub-second fluctuations between top-down and bottom-up modes distinguish diverse human brain states.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Queen bees offload pesticide burden to eggs when social buffering is overwhelmed.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin
08:57

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin

Published on: July 30, 2014

8.1K

Actin in 2021.

Robert Insall1

  • 1Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|May 25, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This special issue explores recent advancements in understanding actin, a key protein in cell structure and movement. Discover new insights into its complex functions and regulatory mechanisms within the cytoskeleton.

More Related Videos

Visualizing Actin and Microtubule Coupling Dynamics In Vitro by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence TIRF Microscopy
08:44

Visualizing Actin and Microtubule Coupling Dynamics In Vitro by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence TIRF Microscopy

Published on: July 20, 2022

3.7K
Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
08:02

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles

Published on: May 5, 2022

2.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin
08:57

Aip1p Dynamics Are Altered by the R256H Mutation in Actin

Published on: July 30, 2014

8.1K
Visualizing Actin and Microtubule Coupling Dynamics In Vitro by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence TIRF Microscopy
08:44

Visualizing Actin and Microtubule Coupling Dynamics In Vitro by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence TIRF Microscopy

Published on: July 20, 2022

3.7K
Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
08:02

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles

Published on: May 5, 2022

2.9K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The cytoskeleton is crucial for cellular structure, motility, and intracellular transport.
  • Actin is a fundamental protein involved in diverse cellular processes.

Discussion:

  • Recent research has reshaped our understanding of actin's dynamic functions.
  • New regulatory mechanisms governing actin polymerization and organization are emerging.

Key Insights:

  • Actin's role extends beyond structural support to active regulation of cellular events.
  • The interplay between actin and regulatory proteins is more complex than previously thought.

Outlook:

  • Future research will likely focus on the precise spatiotemporal control of actin dynamics.
  • Understanding actin regulation is key to deciphering cellular mechanisms and disease pathologies.