Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Using Microfluidics and Fluorescence Microscopy to Study the Assembly Dynamics of Single Actin Filaments and Bundles
Published on: May 5, 2022
The role of leiomodin in actin dynamics: a new road or a secret gate
Dmitri Tolkatchev1, Carol C Gregorio2, Alla S Kostyukova1
1Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Abstract:
Leiomodin is an important emerging regulator of thin filaments. As novel molecular, cellular, animal model, and human data accumulate, the mechanisms of its action become clearer. Structural studies played a significant part in understanding the functional significance of leiomodin's interacting partners and functional domains. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge on the structural and cellular properties of leiomodin which has led to two proposed mechanisms of its function. Although it is known that leiomodin is essential for life, numerous domains within leiomodin remain unstudied and as such, we outline future directions for investigations that we predict will provide evidence that leiomodin is a multifunctional protein.
Related Concept Videos
Actin Filament Depolymerization
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
Generation of Straight or 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...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments
The high-order actin...

